Music & the Spoken Word: A promise of peace and joy

Editor’s note: “The Spoken Word” is shared by Lloyd Newell each Sunday throughout the weekly Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square broadcast. This can be given Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.

As conflicts rage world wide, we may feel unsafe, helpless, even hopeless at times. But God doesn’t want His children to feel that way. He knows all in regards to the world’s problems; yet He also knows easy methods to give, because the scripture says, “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah 61:3). Jesus said, “I’m come a light-weight into the world, that whosoever believeth on me shouldn’t abide in darkness” (John 12:46). Because of that belief, that trust, we will find beauty even on ugly days, light even on dark days, and peace and joy even amid turmoil and sorrow.

Does that mean we just close our eyes to the suffering on this planet, pretending that each one is well? No. It simply signifies that we search out, delay and promote the nice, the true and the gorgeous. Real peace and joy come from the quiet assurance of a greater world to return. And what’s going to bring that higher world? The patient, tireless efforts of people that, with faith within the Lord and trust in His guarantees, are striving to do what’s right, here and now, even when it’s difficult. Peace and joy can dwell in our souls, even when the peaceful, joyful world we envision seems distant. We get a foretaste after we allow God into our lives, after we extend to others the love and respect of our common humanity.

If you asked someone what it’s prefer to experience peace and joy amid turmoil and sorrow, they could have trouble explaining it. The feeling is real and deep and powerful, however it’s also indescribable, unspeakable, too great to even express in words. You simply need to experience it to know it. It is available in quiet moments, sometimes unexpectedly. As the apostle Paul taught, “The peace of God … passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

But we do understand this: the peace of God begins after we accept the Lord’s invitation to “have peace one with one other” (Mark 9:50). Peace must first come from inside; then it could flow from us to the house, to the community and to the world.

Tuning in …

The “Music & the Spoken Word” broadcast is on the market on KSL-TV, KSL NewsRadio 1160AM/102.7FM, KSL.com, BYUtv, BYUradio, Dish and DirecTV, SiriusXM Radio (Ch. 143), the tabernaclechoir.org, youtube.com/TheTabernacleChoir and Amazon Alexa (must enable skill). The program is aired continue to exist Sundays at 9:30 a.m. on lots of these outlets. Look up broadcast information by state and city at musicandthespokenword.com/viewers-listeners/airing-schedules.