Peace Like a River

I was flipping through the channels the other day and stopped on one of these public access church service channels, similar to the traditional televangelist but not as polarizing. I usually skip over these completely unless they are saying something completely ridiculous or over the top, in which case I like to grab some popcorn and listen for awhile. But this time I stopped because they were singing a song I had heard growing up in Sunday school - “Peace like a River.”

The televised minister then continued to explain why we as Christians should have peace in our lives and how it should be calming our nerves and reassuring us in our blessings. This was interesting to me as I had been so little when I sung this particular song that I hadn’t really given any thought to their meaning or their implications.

I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river
In my soul.

Is that really what we have?

I personally have such a hard time with anyone who tries to make following Christ seem so prosperous. What about those who follow Christ in China, Indonesia or Darfur? In the midst of absolute destruction and persecution are they supposed to have peace like a river? As we watch wars, disease, poverty, and indifference tear apart our world; where is this peace like a river? Why would we sing this hymn and why would we ever turn it into a children’s song to teach in Sunday school? All in all, it seemed presumptuous at best and at worst, completely false.

What is peace really? Is it the absence of war or bullets? Is it the absence of depression or poverty? Some, like that particular minister, would argue it is the assurance we feel over our lives. But if Christ came to give us peace in that sense, why does it seem our world is on fire? Why do we fear for our lives, health, finances and security?

I like that the writer used the word river to describe the peace we have in Christ. I mean, what’s peaceful about rivers? This isn’t a creek trickling through the ravine in our backyard. Imagine rafting through the Colorado as it cuts through the Grand Canyon or remember the Mississippi and all the lives that she’s claimed. These are unpredictable waters that can destroy homes with floods and take lives with their undercurrents; there is nothing peaceful about them.

So why would the writer use such an ironic metaphor? I think this hymn I sang so blissfully in Sunday school is communicating a far more profound truth than we would first notice. Maybe the writer understood that this life and this walk with Christ would be filled with painful, unpredictable and sometimes crushing experiences and maybe it is in this truth that they wrote those words.

I do not think that Jesus came to give us peace in the world’s terms. I don’t think He came so that we could hope in the things of this world, whether it means security, financial stability, or health. No, instead I think Jesus came to give us something totally different; an inward peace - a hope in a promise of restoration. And that is something to sing about.