Peace

Whenever we reassure someone who is experiencing fear, anxiety, or despair, we are acting in the divine image. Throughout salvation history, God has continually offered peace and reassurance that God is in our midst and that we will have a future. Let’s face it, the world we live in can be a very scary place, not just for little children, but also for us adults and we all need peace and reassurance.

It’s no secret that one of the most often-repeated lines in Scripture is “Do not be afraid” or some variation thereof (fear not, be not afraid, do not fear, peace be with you, and so on). Even Jesus’ last words to his disciples before ascending into heaven were words of reassurance encouraging peace: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Reassurance, and peace are the benefits of accompaniment. Sometimes, people just don’t want to be alone. When we accompany others through difficult times, we don’t have to have all the answers. We only need to assure them that they are not alone and that they are going to be OK (while noting that, for some, that OK-ness will be eventual, not immediate). One of the reasons we proclaim the Gospel is to reassure people of the nearness of God and of God’s saving grace bringing with it a peace this world cannot give.