Locked Down: a prayer from Lezley Stewart

A prayer from Rev Dr Lezley Stewart, the Church of Scotland's Recruitment and Support Secretary.

Locked Down

There were other doors
once locked in fear,
in a time of waiting
and distress.

It was an uncertain,
questioning time -
longing for what had been known
and treasured before.

Into that space,
calming and soothing,
came these welcome words -
"Peace be with you."

Peace be with you in every worry,
in every sleepless night,
in every loss experienced,
in every comfort now distant.

Peace be with you in every certainty,
in the shared burden of these days,
in the unexpected connections,
in the gift of another sunset and sunrise.

Peace be with you and yours,
the deepest peace,
the strongest peace,
the peace that passes all understanding.

Christ is our peace
and is in our midst.
His words echo again -
"Peace be with you."