In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

— Psalm 4:8

I remember that as a child I was often afraid of the sounds of aircraft flying at night. I was born and raised in Moscow, USSR, at the height of the Cold War. At that time, the sounds of jets flying high in the sky could mean that an enemy attack was near.

Those were common fears back then. Many years later an American friend shared with me that he had a similar experience while growing up.

Sadly, in today’s world fears of war are coming back to many of us. And, far worse, those fears have become very real and tragic experiences for people in war zones.

War is terrible, and peace is precious. This month I’d like to invite you to reflect on peace. What does the Bible say about peace? Why do we need it so much? How can we find peace and keep it?

In Psalm 4 we find a distressed psalmist calling out to the Lord at night. In this very personal prayer, as the writer seeks relief and mercy from God, he discovers that trusting God is the key to finding peace and happiness. Trust in God allows the psalmist to lie down and sleep, and to face the next day with hope and assurance.

That’s the comfort we need. All kinds of fears can assault our minds and hearts. But if we trust in the Lord, we can dwell in safety, regardless of external circumstances.

Lord, in this world of danger we trust you alone for our salvation and safety. Give us your peace so that we may face tomorrow boldly, protected by your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.