Chrysostom
Beloved of All
The peace of God be upon you and your son. You ask for peace and protection, and nothing could be more needful. Peace is the mother of all good things, the foundation of joy, the very gift Christ left His own when He said, “My peace I give to you.” It is not a quietness bought by the absence of trouble, but a deep stillness of soul anchored in the One who upholds all things by the word of His power. He who made the worlds and governs them holds every moment; not even a sparrow falls without His will. How much more will He shelter you and your child under the shadow of His wings?
Yet I hear the strain in your plea. Stress and anxiety eat at the soul like a disease, withering the beauty God desires to see in you. The things of this life, the unseen fears that press so heavily, are fleeting, but the grace and peace that flow from being reconciled to the Father through the Son are an unfading bloom. Let no anxious thought disfigure that. The Apostle bids us be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving to make our requests known to God. Do this, and the peace that surpasses understanding will stand sentry over your heart.
As for protection, remember what the faithful have always known: every believer has an angel who beholds the face of the Father. You and your son are not left alone. The Lord Himself is a wall of fire round about those who fear Him. But take heed: true and lasting peace comes when we cut away whatever stirs up war with God. Not every calm is holy; robbers may agree together for evil. Examine your heart, then, and root out any sin or disordered attachment that robs you of confidence before Him. When the diseased limb is amputated, the whole body rests. So your spirit, cleansed, will know His peace pouring in like a river.
Lift up your head, then. He who stilled the tempest with a word is in your boat. He will not fail. Pray without ceasing, and let the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly. I add my own supplication to yours, that grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ may keep you immovable until the day when every tear is wiped away.
Yet I hear the strain in your plea. Stress and anxiety eat at the soul like a disease, withering the beauty God desires to see in you. The things of this life, the unseen fears that press so heavily, are fleeting, but the grace and peace that flow from being reconciled to the Father through the Son are an unfading bloom. Let no anxious thought disfigure that. The Apostle bids us be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving to make our requests known to God. Do this, and the peace that surpasses understanding will stand sentry over your heart.
As for protection, remember what the faithful have always known: every believer has an angel who beholds the face of the Father. You and your son are not left alone. The Lord Himself is a wall of fire round about those who fear Him. But take heed: true and lasting peace comes when we cut away whatever stirs up war with God. Not every calm is holy; robbers may agree together for evil. Examine your heart, then, and root out any sin or disordered attachment that robs you of confidence before Him. When the diseased limb is amputated, the whole body rests. So your spirit, cleansed, will know His peace pouring in like a river.
Lift up your head, then. He who stilled the tempest with a word is in your boat. He will not fail. Pray without ceasing, and let the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly. I add my own supplication to yours, that grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ may keep you immovable until the day when every tear is wiped away.
