# Peace explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Henry van Dyke Jr..

## What happens

The speaker recounts a fervent struggle to attain peace through personal will, only to find bitterness and exhaustion. After a desperate cry to Heaven goes unanswered, the speaker surrenders completely to divine will, and in that moment of self-forgetfulness, peace is finally won.

## Themes in this chapter

### Spiritual Peace and Rest

The central theme of the chapter: peace is achieved not through striving but through surrender to divine will.

### Faith and Doubt

The speaker's initial doubt and desperate cry to Heaven are resolved by an act of faith in accepting 'His will be done.'

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker who strives for peace, grows weary, and ultimately finds peace through surrender.

### Jesus

Implied as the divine presence to whom the speaker submits, saying 'His will be done.'

## Key lines

> With eager heart and will on fire, I strove to win my great desire. 'Peace shall be mine,' I said; but life Grew bitter in the barren strife.

I passionately pursued peace as a goal, but the struggle only made life bitter.

_The speaker's initial approach to peace as something to be conquered through effort._

> Broken at last, I bowed my head, Forgetting all myself, and said, 'Whatever comes, His will be done;' And in that moment peace was won.

Finally humbled and self-forgetful, I surrendered to divine will, and instantly found peace.

_The turning point where surrender, not striving, brings peace._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_10_se/chapters/peace
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_10_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_10_se/chapters