Although the doors were locked,

Jesus came

     and stood among them

     and said,

            "Peace be with you."

                    John 20. 26

(His peace

      is not an absence of hardship,

but His Presence

      right in the midst,

               right here with us.

His peace

         cannot be explained away,

and is never dependent

               on circumstances

     but His steadfast love.

Where are You, O Lord?

        Right here with you.)

O LORD,

Help us to stake our lives

      on Your love and peace

to navigate us through

          the storms,

          the miry bogs,

     and even the favorable.

That we would know You more.

That we would bring Your name

            to unlikely places.

That we would live differently

              in great peace

   because we know You.

May Your peace reign in us

   so that others might see You

                        livestream.

Your peace is not impervious

  to difficulty

        but responsive.