I remember lying in a prison cell on my own, feeling frightened, scared and troubled. I prayed and even though I wouldn’t at that point have said I was a Christian I felt this strange presence invade the room and a sense of peace came on me like I have never experienced since. Surprisingly I slept that night like a baby in his mother’s arms. I think at that point I had an encounter with the peace of God.
I have often wondered about what happened in my cell that night? The closest I can get is a verse in the bible: Phillipians 4-7 "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
I had, what can only be described as a truly spiritual experience, in Chelmsford prison, I haven't had one like it since.
By "understanding" I think we have thoughts like: Why? What? When? Where? What if? How come? this is our quest for understanding and I had a beautiful moment of peace at a troubled time that transcended my understanding. A peace that went beyond my questions.
It's weird really, people who don’t want to be preached at and are not even sure if they believe in God still – strangely – believe in prayer.
It was prayer and the presence of God, rather than the pulpit and its preaching, that could reach into a prison cell like mine. I guess what I am getting at is that God brings peace even to those who are trapped and in prison.
Mine was a literal prison, but our own prison cells take many forms….
(by the way if your wondering why I am blogging so much, Tracy is away in Madrid for the weekend and I am kind of bored!)
2 comments:
Don't you just love a God who can bring peace to the most troubling of times?
I used to self harm and was basically very troubled, and one night I was totally on edge, and just couldn't sleep and then a feeling of peace washed over me, encompassing me in God's love. Even then I was a Christian, yet still allowed manacles and bars to prevent the peace, yet God was able to break through.
Sometimes, even just in day to days stressy occassions God just overwhelms me with a certain peace which things of the whole doesn't provide, and for that I praise him.
How funny, I just ended up in some people's blogs from Chelmsford yesterday. I didn't even know where it was until today. (Sorry me no British)
and Amen to prayer and Presence of God!
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