Longfellow Was Right

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play
And wild and sweet, the words repeat
Of  peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head, 
'There is no peace on earth, ' I said,
'For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.'

Then pealed the bells more loud and sweet,
'God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.'
-- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1863

We all -- every one of us -- have the power to choose.  That some people choose evil and innocents suffer still shocks us.

But 'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep' is a word we must recall, even if we don't understand.

'I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world.' - John 16:33, ESV

This was not a pat, feel good statement made by someone passing by a grieving soul; this was Jesus, just a few hours before he was to undergo his own excruciating tribulation...yet he was speaking in the past tense.  With his suffering in front of him, he spoke his victory.  That has always astonished me.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. -Heb. 4: 15-16

The grace and mercy is given to help us in time of need but...grace and mercy is also given to us so that we may help others in time of need.  But we must go to the Source, Who is not dead and Who never sleeps.