“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” – John 14:27
Funerals are a sacred event in the life of the church. People attend funerals for many reasons. One of the primary reasons that we gather together during the death of a loved one is to remember our faith and find comfort in the presence of God and one another.
Often at funerals, we turn to music to express our faith and to find the comfort and faithful reminder we need in times of mourning and trials. One of the most popular hymns often chosen in times like this is In the Garden by C. Austin Miles.
In the Garden was written by Miles while he was taking time, during a busy day, to read his Bible and pray. While studying, Miles was overcome with a vision of being in the garden on that wonderful Easter day when Jesus rose from the grave. Miles felt comforted by the vision as he realized that Jesus was not only present to the people in garden over 2,000 years ago, but he is still with us today.
The resurrection of Jesus, God’s ongoing presence in our world, gives us comfort in the midst of loss and pain. We turn to Jesus who offers us himself. Jesus reminds us that we are not alone. We can draw close to God and God will draw close to us. God’s presence is a comfort. With God, we find the “peace that passes understanding.” (Philippians 4:7)
C. Austin Miles understood the gift of God’s comforting presence. In an interview he stated, “It is the daily companionship with the Lord that makes up the Christian’s life.” Although the resurrection of Jesus was over 2,000 years ago, we still have the gift of being in His presence. Let us take time today to draw close to God, knowing that God will draw close to us.
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
