God the Almighty longs for peace;
God confronts the desolation of war.
God cradles the broken bodies
and feels the agony of violence.
Jesus kneels with the grieving
and collects their wild tears.
The Holy Spirit broods over the bent world
counting the cost of carnage.
The Lord of hosts is with us,
the God of Jacob is our refuge
as we long for peace.
God is our refuge and strength
a very present help in times of trouble.
Come behold the works of the Lord,
see what desolations God has brought on the earth.
From Canada to Cambodia,
from Israel to Indonesia,
from Afghanistan to the Americas,
God makes wars cease to the end of the earth.
God breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
God burns the shields with fire.
God breaks the M16 assault rifles,
and shatters the laser guided bombs,
God burns the CF18 fighter jets with fire.
God breaks the AK47s,
and shatters the cluster bombs,
God burns the military intelligence satellites with fire.
God breaks the sniper rifle,
and shatters the grenade,
God burns the military torture centres with fire.
God breaks the atomic bombs
and shatters the missile silos,
God burns the nuclear submarines with fire.
Be still and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us,
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
I am a Mennonite pastor currently teaching theology at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario. I’ve served congregations in Ontario and most recently, Alberta.