There is a misconception that Peace is something you have when nothing terrible is happening. But that’s exactly the case. When we look at the times where God presents peace to individuals, it’s often right at the height or at the beginning of the most terrible times. This past week we looked at the promise found in John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
In this promise is given to Jesus’ disciples moments after He reveals that He is about to be betrayed by one of them and denied by another. His disciples are troubled in their spirit and mind because for them, Jesus is everything. In their minds, despite His teachings, they had visions of Jesus walking into the Synagogue and take his place as the high priest, of him walking into the center of Jerusalem and taking his place as the King of the Jews. They did not want to accept the idea that before these moments of victory; there would be moments that some would call defeat and despair. Who could they have peace when their mentor, their best friend, their Lord; was about to be violently beaten, mutilated, and murdered?
The peace that comes is through Holy Spirit reminding them of who God is. True peace comes when you have an assurance in something greater. For His disciples, for you as a disciple of Jesus; we can only truly have peace when we lean into the understanding that no matter what is happening, Jesus is Lord. The Bible says that all the promises of God are YES and that because of who God is, we can firmly declare that they shall be, amen.
Whatever you’re going through, lean into Christ today. Lean into the Word of God. Allow Holy Spirit to bring you the peace that comes with submission to our Holy God.