While driving from errand to errand one afternoon, I thought of how my life seemed to be out of control—financial, relationship, and physical problems all at the same time. My tensed shoulders and hands gripping the steering wheel revealed the turmoil inside me. Little did I know that God was about to show me a sight that would remind me how to find peace through my relationship with Him.
I frowned impatiently at how slowly the stop-and-go traffic crept along in spite of the green light ahead. Soon I saw the reason. A mother duck was marching across five lanes of traffic, with four baby ducks in tow, who waddled behind her with a steady rhythm in front of the stopped cars. I sat mesmerized and wondered, “Why aren’t they frightened by all the cars and noise surrounding them?”
Then I noticed that the mother duck was staring intently at her destination—the other side of the street. The ducklings kept in single file with eyes fixed straight ahead. Suddenly I understood that God was reminding me of the secret to peace—to not look at the problems surrounding me, but to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, “the author and perfecter” of my faith (Hebrews 12:2 NIV). I have learned how to find peace: by concentrating on Christ, my guide who has promised to get me safely to my destination, regardless of what’s going on around me.
Enjoy this hymn that describes the ultimate peace: It is Well With My Soul, from the album, “Together for the Gospel Live” from Sovereign Grace Music.
Learn more about the history of this beautiful hymn, its author, Horatio Gates Spafford (1828-1888) and the tragedy he experienced before writing it.
©Dianne Neal Matthews. Dianne is a freelance writer and the author of The One Year Women of the Bible and three other daily devotional books. Visit her at www.DianneNealMatthews.com.
