5TH WEEK OF EASTER

Not as the world gives [peace] do I give it to you. 

Advertising agencies have made a fortune using “peace” to sell their products. Whether it’s a bubble bath that promises to take us away from our worries, an all-inclusive island getaway, or just a fast-food restaurant where we are told we deserve a break today, peace is what they are really selling. There may be some value in a quiet bath, an island getaway, or a quick hamburger, but in the end, the peace offered in these settings is fleeting. Even the peace that comes from the end of a war is temporary. Another conflict always seems to be waiting in the wings.

So when Jesus offers us peace, he quickly points out that he is not offering the temporary peace that the world gives. He is offering something far deeper and more lasting. His peace doesn’t rely on changing scenery or moments of indulgence. It comes from standing before God as his child: beloved, redeemed, and filled with his Spirit. His peace is always available to us.

This is why turning to Jesus is our wisest course of action when worries occupy our thoughts or anxieties wake us up at night. We reach out to him instead of reaching for the television remote, some ice cream, or some other familiar stress reliever, and know that he will hear us and help us. Even when we are feeling weighed down by serious issues, we can still come to the Lord and he will share our burdens.

And what if we don’t “feel” more peaceful? That’s where faith comes in. Recall who you are as a child of God. Recall the attributes of your heavenly Father. Believe that he won’t give you a stone if you ask for a piece of bread (Matthew 7:9). Your troubles won’t automatically disappear, but it will be harder for fear or anxiety to consume you.

Don’t settle for a temporary peace! Jesus came to establish his peace as a permanent, trustworthy refuge for you no matter what your situation may be. What problems are you facing today? Turn them over to Jesus. Trust in his promise to be with you always. Ask him for the peace that endures to eternal life.

“Lord, help me to trust in your presence and your promises. Jesus, I need your peace!”

Acts 14:19-28
Psalm 145:10-13, 21
John 14:27-31