Some days are harder then others. This particular day was a doozy. In the span of eight hours I heard three heartbreaking stories of families in chaos. Then I made the mistake of turning on the news. There wasn’t a heartwarming story to be heard instead, I listened to the broadcaster share the soaring numbers of this raging pandemic, in a world in a state of turmoil.

Maybe it was the day I had had that made me desperate to find some peace. So, I put on the kettle for some tea, turned off the television and sat in the quiet and prayed.

It was then that I remembered this story:

There once was a ruler who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The ruler looked at all the pictures. But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror with peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was a stormy sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning flashed. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all to those who saw it.

But when the ruler looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush, a mother bird had built her nest there. In the midst of the threatening torrent of water, and stormy sky, sat the mother bird on her nest-in perfect peace.

Guess which picture won the prize? The ruler chose the second picture. Do you know why?

He chose the second picture because it was true to life. Peace does not need to be found in a place where there is no noise, trouble, hard work, or strife. Peace can be found in the midst of all those demanding things.

Peace can be found in knowing that in the midst of the chaos, God is still in charge. God is still in control and God sees you and knows exactly what you need. Peace is surrendering to God.

Peace can be find right where you are.