“He knows how to calm me… to reassure me… without Peter, I’m lost”
These words have been on my mind for the past few weeks. They are the words of Princess Margaret from The Crown on Netflix (although I can’t recommend the second season).
I watched this series months ago. Yet, there is a scene that keeps coming to mind. It’s where Queen Elizabeth tells her sister, Princess Margaret, that she can’t marry the family bodyguard (Peter). Elizabeth, after a long and arduous struggle, realizes her approval of this marriage could harm the crown. Queen Elizabeth inevitably has to tell Margaret that she would be disowned if she chooses to marry Peter.
So, in a difficult heart-to-heart talk with her sister, Margaret says of Peter, “He keeps me calm. He reassured me. I’m lost without him.”
Have you ever felt that way? You feel lost in the midst of the mundane. Or you feel on edge because every time you turn around, you hear of more bad news, more heartbreak, more illness, more pain. Sometimes, life is just chaotic. Sometimes, you don’t have time to get away to think. You don’t have time to clear your head. Sometimes, you just need someone to be steady for you. You need someone safe to tether yourself to.
For me, this is a beautiful picture of Christ. The crown has the final say. Everyone in the royal family must sacrifice to maintain the integrity of the crown. All eyes are on them. Peter’s assignment is to keep the family safe, to protect them at all cost. Instead of being deeply in love with just one of the royal family, Jesus is desperately in love with each of His children.
In the series, Peter sacrifices everything. Jesus sacrificed everything. Whenever Margaret feels like the pressure of being in the spotlight is too much, or being held to a different standard feels as though it might break her, or having to keep things close to their chest might just make her crack. Peter is there. He is always available to her. She still has to persevere in everyday things, but when she gets overwhelmed or feels like she can’t hold it together anymore, Peter reassures her to stay steady. He reminds her of her calling. He shares in the sacrifice and keeps as much chaos and worry as possible away from her.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
Psalm 18:2 NLT
So, when this life feels too overwhelming, when you just can’t take one more doctor visit, or phone call with bad news, when you’re growing weary of the mundane, when you’re desperately searching for what the next season might hold, or you’re tired of waiting, remember… Jesus is the one who calms us. Jesus is the one who reassured us. Jesus is the one who never loses us.
His arm is not too short to grab hold of us to keep us steady. His thoughts are always towards us. He sings over us. And He prays for us. He most certainly knows how to protect us.
