‘“I’m leaving you peace. I’m giving you my peace. I don’t give you the kind of peace that the world gives. So don’t be troubled or cowardly.’ – John 14:27
When we’re going through something, we always feel our peace is taken from us. We feel as though we can never find rest. We pray to the Lord to change the situation so that we can ‘find peace.’ What if I told you, you could never find peace in the world? Peace is something that only God can provide. If we had to wait for the circumstances to change before we had peace, how long would we wait? Before He ascended to heaven, Jesus told us that He gives us peace, and as His followers, we have to do our part and apply the peace He gives us. Therefore, peace is an action.
Peace is remembering that Jesus is your anchor during the storm. Peace is not waiting for things to change before you can feel it. By focusing on all the bad that is going on around us, we rob ourselves of this incredible peace. By taking our eyes off Jesus, we take away the peace He gave us.
The Lord further said that He does not give to us as the world gives; there, Jesus’s peace is not circumstance-based but faith-based. In Philippians 4:7, Paul says, ‘The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ The Lord’s peace guards our hearts. We only have to set our minds on Him and trust Him – Isaiah 26:3.
We do not trust in the Lord for what He can give us but rather because of who He is. If we live our lives with the mindset that ‘if Jesus is all we have, then we have all we need,’ then we will have peace in every situation, and we will come to realise that even in the troubles, God is still working, our heavenly Father is still with us.
Peace When I’m Not Coping
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, the troubles I face feel like they rob me of my peace. Lord, please help me keep my eyes on you. Help me, Father, to dwell on the peace that You give, the peace that can only be found in You, Lord, because I know I can never be shaken when I am with You. I ask all this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Challenge: During prayer, ask the Lord to show you your thoughts that give you anxiety when facing challenges and replace those thoughts with scripture.
