A Story By: Benjamin Groff© Groff Media 2024© Truth Endures
An older man, who had prayed for peace since he was a young child, lived a life of selflessness. His mother’s words, that God would answer his prayer if he kept his life clean of sin and did what was best for others, became his guiding principle. He never put himself first, always putting the lives of others before his own needs.
So, the older man went without when he could have lived a comfortable life. He gave to others and kept a solitary life when he could have had a home filled with love and a family. The city he lived in had the highest crime rates in the world, and the country in which the older man lived was worn in battles between battles with other nations and individual groups. He was a victim of crime repeatedly when he could have had protection provided.
The man became wealthy without trying, thanks to inheritances from family and friends and business interactions he had made without intending to see a return. When he turned 80, he prayed one night, asking why God hadn’t answered his prayer.
The older man’s prayer echoed through the quiet of his small, humble home. He sat at the edge of his bed, his hands clasped tightly together, his heart heavy with years of unanswered longing. The world outside his window was no different than it had been decades ago—still filled with strife, suffering, and humankind’s relentless cruelty.
A deep voice resonated as he closed his eyes, seeking the peace he had always desired. It wasn’t a voice he heard with his ears but one that spoke directly to his soul.
“My son,”
The voice began, calm and compassionate.
“My son, you have lived a life of unwavering faith, sacrifice, and selflessness. But true peace is not the absence of conflict in the world around you. It is the serenity within your heart, the understanding that you have done all you can for others, and the acceptance that the world’s burdens do not solely rest upon your shoulders.”
The man’s breath caught as the realization began to dawn on him.
“Peace is not something one gets as a reward for their deeds,”
the voice continued,
“but something that grows within you, cultivated by your actions, thoughts, and love. You have touched countless lives, offered solace to those in need, and lived your life according to the highest ideals. The peace you seek has been with you all along, not in the world outside, but within the purity of your heart and the love you have shown others.”
Tears welled in the older man’s eyes as he understood. He had spent his life searching for peace in the world while nurturing it within himself. The crimes, wars, and suffering were not his to control.
His prayer had been answered most profoundly: by giving him the strength to endure, the compassion to love, and the wisdom to understand that peace is not an external gift but an internal state of grace.
As the older man lay back on his bed, a warm, gentle calm washed over him. He closed his eyes, not in despair but in contentment. For the first time in his life, he felt at peace—not because the world had changed, but because he had finally understood the true nature of his prayer.
And with that peace, he drifted into a restful sleep, his heart light, his soul fulfilled, and his spirit finally at ease.
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