Nine-year-old Gloria Swaners stood on the front porch of her little cabin in western Tennessee. The year was 1942, and World War II had just recently started. Gloria’s father had gone to war to fight on the Allied side. Ever since the Japanese bomb attack on Pearl Harbor last year, America had been drawn into a full-blown war against the Axis Powers.

Gloria missed her father every day. She worried about him. Was he sick? Was he injured? Did he have enough to eat? Was he concerned about them? Had he been taken prisoner by the Axis Powers? But most importantly, was he still trusting God?

Gloria rested her head in her hands and gazed at the horizon. The sun was beginning to rise, throwing pricks of pink and golden light on the tender grass shoots, the rough tree trunks, and the tender, delicate leaves of the mulberry bushes. As she stood in awe at the marvelous sight, Ecclesiastes 3:11 popped into her mind: “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Gloria knew that was true. God was the Creator, blessed be His name, and to Him all praise must be given.

“God,” Gloria said quietly, “please protect Daddy and help him come home safely. Please help the Japanese see that what they did was wrong, bombing Pearl Harbor like that. Help us all to continue to have faith in You. You are righteous and holy, and you alone are the One who can stop all warfare. Give all the families of the men in the war peace and comfort, and please provide for them as You have for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Gloria smiled as the sunlight dawned on her face, reflecting off the blueness of her eyes. She felt a calm, quiet peace travel over her as Jesus’ words from John 16:33 flashed into her mind: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”

And in the dazzling light of the sunrise, Gloria found God’s peace and a comfort beyond all understanding.