by Leticia Musgrave, Defiance, Ohio

MANY YEARS AGO when I met my husband, I made a statement: “He is the best thing that ever happened to me.” Now that statement still holds true; the only difference is that when I met him, I was a lost soul, and he was a backslidden Christian. We were trying to enjoy happiness together in the world, and most times, to no avail. We had our ups and downs, and as many know, marriage is full of trials and by no means all “peaches and cream”—especially when you don’t have God as the center.

Shortly after marriage, my father-in-law came to visit us at our home in Pennsylvania. I had never met this man. Strange to me, the first evening we talked, he asked me if I was saved! If I were to die today, would I be in Heaven or in Hell? Wow, not what I was expecting! I was hoping to hear about the upbringing of my husband and what made him the wonderful and responsible man that he had become. But no, my father-in-law preached to me and gave me the plan of salvation. In return, I gave him the cold shoulder and let him know that, in my opinion, he could now go home.

Well, he did go home shortly after that, but ladies, the next day God did not give me rest. I somehow felt my father-in-law was responsible for that lack of rest. I felt he had come to visit to disrupt my comfort zone and give my husband a wake-up call, seeing that my husband was saved at the age of nine and had never witnessed to me.“This” was the beginning of “the best thing that ever happened to us”—true peace! “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.…” (John 16:33a).

I worked for a chain of grocery stores, and from the office where I was assigned to work, I was able to look out and see the rows of desks where men and women were working to calculate the daily sales. As I stood there thinking and pondering the words of my father-in-law, God showed me through His infinite mercy that I was lost and without that “peace.” I was living in my own comfort zone and on the road to Hell! At that moment, despite the open office door, I knelt down and said, “Lord, I don’t understand all that my father-in-law shared with me, but I don’t want to disrespect You. And I sure don’t want to go to Hell. I give my life to You, and I trust that You will help me figure out the answers for which I long.” Immediately, I found the “peace of salvation.”

Years later, God called my husband to be a pastor. We both had to allow God to show us how to go down this path. We went off to Bible college to grow together and have found that the transition into Christian work has been smooth. In May, we will celebrate five years of service in Defiance, Ohio.

People ask, “How is your church going?”

My response is always, “Great! We are in God’s perfect will and have no regrets.” I respond this way because of the perfect peace I have in His service.

In order to have peace in each stage of my life, I have had to grow. My peace concerning salvation came and has been with me ever since that prayer in the office. The peace of my service has stayed with me as my husband and I serve God in Ohio. No matter if hard times come and go, I will still know that I am doing His will. I love this peace that passes all understanding. I hope you enjoy the peace that only God can give.