He was overheard saying that the letters in the name of the medication were Greek and meant peace of mind. Immediately there came to mind a Bible verse given to me by my grandmother. While I do not recall the circumstance that caused her to share the words of a Psalm, the words have never left my thinking. The Psalmist wrote --
… “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makes me dwell in safety.”(Psalm 4:8)
What comfort that brings to a troubled soul that rests in the Lord. While medicine and science deal with that which is visible and tangible, the Word of God is able to address and satisfy the needs of the real individual, the invisible inner man, the soul and spirit. It is this spiritual life that our Lord addressed with His words of great encouragement. His words ring out --
… “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”(Matt 11:28-30)
Yet, when the Lord again told his disciples that He must go to the Cross, they were troubled and vexed in their souls. He encouraged them with the words --
… “let not your hearts be troubled you believe in God, believe also in Me.”(John 14:1 KJV)
Then He added these words of comfort --
… “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”(John 14:27 KJV)
The peace promised to His disciples is the same peace that is promised to anyone who has placed their faith and trust in Christ. By a simple act of the will, ones personal faith directed toward the saving work of Christ results in eternal life. That immediately gives the individual peace with God. Now that person is challenged to learn of Him and possess the rest or peace of God. The distinction should not be overlooked; there is peace with God through faith in Christ, and there is the peace of God which comes into our lives as we learn of Him and apply His Word to the circumstances of life. Where there is peace of mind, there is the absence of worry. That was the instruction of the Apostle Paul to the Philippian churches when he said --
… “Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.”(Phil 4:6-7 TEV)
How blest we are when we believe God’s promise and commit our cares and burdens to Him. We do not have ability to bring peace to our souls, but He does. How frightening it is when there is no peace due to neglect and rejection of His Word. The prophet Jeremiah in addressing a stubborn people who had stiffened their necks against God warned --
… “For thus says the LORD, "Do not enter a house of mourning, or go to lament or to console them; for I have withdrawn My peace from this people," declares the LORD, "My lovingkindness and compassion.”(Jer 16:5 NASB)
May it never be necessary for the Lord to apply Jeremiah’s message to any of us as individuals or to our nation.