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“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.”  Colossians 3:15

Whenever I read about peace in the Bible, I often think of the hymn called “It Is Well With My Soul.”  You have probably heard its familiar lyrics before:

When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul

Horatio Spafford, a lawyer and a businessman, wrote this hymn after enduring unfathomable loss.  In 1871, the Great Fire of Chicago destroyed his real estate investments, leaving him with a large amount of debt.

Two years later, the family decided to take a trip to Europe on one of the nicest passenger ships afloat at the time, the Ville du Havre.  Just before the ship was set to sail, Horatio received news that required him to stay back for work.  His wife and children went ahead, and it was decided he would join them as soon as he was able.

About seven days into the trip, the Ville du Havre collided with a cargo vessel, causing catastrophic damage.  It took only twelve minutes for the luxurious ship to sink.  Over two hundred people lost their lives that day, including all four of the Spafford daughters.

After learning the news about his family, Horatio left on a ship for England to join his wife, who was rescued alive.  He penned the lyrics to “It Is Well” when he passed the site of the horrific tragedy.  The hymn’s message is poignant, especially coming from someone who has endured much sadness: whatever happens in life, God has taught me to find peace.

How do we get to a place of peace, where we can say it is well with my soul, during good times and bad?  Colossians 3:15 tells us to “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.”  When we trust Christ as our personal Savior, we have peace because we know He has triumphed over sin and death.  In addition, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit at salvation.  The Spirit gives us the ability to bear fruit- including peace- as we allow Christ to work in our hearts (see Galatians 5:22-23).

The second sentence of Colossians 3:15 contains only three words, but in those three words lay another key to everlasting peace: thankfulness.  When we chose to focus on our blessings instead of our hardships, a wonderful, transforming thing happens in our hearts and minds: our view of God becomes bigger, and our view of our problems becomes smaller.  Peace is able to take its rightful place in our souls when we focus on our blessings instead of our hardships.

Everlasting peace isn’t something we feel in a fleeting moment or something based on our feelings and circumstances.  Instead, this kind of peace is a lifestyle, a daily choice to rest in Jesus and his faithfulness, no matter what comes our way.  Even when life is incredibly difficult, we can find something for which to be thankful if we try.

“Lord, may we learn to cultivate the habit of choosing thankfulness and peace every day.  Thank You for Your peace-giving gifts of salvation and the Holy Spirit!

For His Glory

Aubrey Carrales
TRBC Women’s Life