If only you had known the path to peace this day (Luke 19:42).

The whole month was a full moon. Friends one after another called to ask for a piece of peace. One friend's son hung himself and she found the body; another lost her cherished nephew to a terrible disease; yet another friend's young child possibly had a brain tumor; a terrible letter ripped apart a beloved pastor's family; yet another friend was experiencing anger years later from sexual abuse as a child. And we were told that our beloved youngest sons fianc had two weeks to live, the cancer had spread. Is there no end to this turmoil?

All this happened quite a few years ago. God granted healing to our daughter-in-law, the pastors family resolved the bitter letter, and my friend is seeing a Christian counselor about the sexual abuse she endured years ago. But there are some sorrows we must go through. My friend whose son hung himself is doing fine, praise a merciful Father! The little boy died of the brain tumor, incredibly sad.

But the pieces are indeed gathered into a peace the world cannot understand. Yes, I told these precious friends as gently as I could, "... In his arms he gathers [his] lambs, carrying them in his bosom" (Isaiah 40:11). Even in the midst of such thankless circumstances, we can give thanks. Our good Shepherd has made it possible. Tragedies don't happen because God hates us. If we can grasp Jesus' promise, "You may not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand" (John 13:7), then we will have calm in the midst of our storm.