“She didn’t die peacefully.”
Those words still echo in my mind and disturb me. Her daughter called to ask if I would do the funeral for her 105-year-old mom.
The circumstances surrounding this woman’s death are so sad and heart-breaking. She seemed to serve her family with sacrificial grit and love. She worked hard and managed to purchase a home while leaving some assets for the family. Yet she was left to die… alone.
Having officiated many funerals, including family members like my father- and mother-in-law, it’s comforting and assuring to see people experiencing a great peace before passing. Even witnessing families that are at peace when their loved one dies is very comforting.
I want to die peacefully. But I’m asking myself: am I living peacefully? Am I at peace in my heart with God, family, relationships and circumstances in life? I can allow my overthinking in areas of life, health, finances, future, relationships, to hijack my peace.
The turmoils of life and world situations can cause anxiousness, worry, fear, and mistrust. I’m reminded of the Psalmist conviction and confession in Psalm 29:11 (NLT):
“The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace.”
We have a wonderfully great and good Father who delights in blessing His children with strength and peace! While we believe and confess this truth, we need to cultivate the peace He provides. Psalm 34:14 gives us insights:
“Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.”
Let’s prayerfully ask ourselves: what kind of evil in our thought life or lives do we need to turn away from? What “good” is God putting on our hearts to do and live out? Are we so overwhelmed or in our own world that we are giving up on pursuing peace? How do we maintain and cultivate peace in our lives?
We can be comforted by Paul’s prayer for the Christians in Thessalonica:
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16 NLT
