John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
John 16:33: "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
What I wouldn't give for some peace and quiet! I have heard that so many times. Life is so hectic, with demands on our time and energy seemingly all day, every day. And there seems to be so much pressure and so much trouble all around...economically, politically, in the environment, in our neighborhoods, and in our homes. It appears that peace is in very short supply.
But peace is just what Jesus promised to leave with us when he returned to heaven. The key, from the verse above, is that he does not give as the world does. What does that mean? In the second verse above, we have the answer. "In this world you will have trouble..." We tend to think that peace means having it easy, with no pressure, no hurrying, no trouble at all. Jesus tells us that this simply isn't the case. As long as we live on earth, we will still have trouble. This is a given. Yet, we can have peace.
Our peace does not come in the absence of trials and troubles. it comes in knowing God and trusting his sovereignty. "...take heart! I have overcome the world." Knowing that no matter what happens, God has our backs, now that brings peace!
The apostle Paul understood this. with everything he went through to bring the good news about Jesus to the world beyond Jerusalem and Judea, he still tells us, "...if god is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31). The Old Testament king, David, also learned how to have peace in the midst of great trial and tribulation. Even though his life was in danger, with the enemy army surrounding him and his men, he cried out to God, "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" (Psalm 56:4).
Peace, therefore, is something deeper than a calm, quiet life. Peace is being able to stand firm, unafraid in the middle of even the most difficult circumstance, knowing you have a God you can trust.
John 16:33: "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
What I wouldn't give for some peace and quiet! I have heard that so many times. Life is so hectic, with demands on our time and energy seemingly all day, every day. And there seems to be so much pressure and so much trouble all around...economically, politically, in the environment, in our neighborhoods, and in our homes. It appears that peace is in very short supply.
But peace is just what Jesus promised to leave with us when he returned to heaven. The key, from the verse above, is that he does not give as the world does. What does that mean? In the second verse above, we have the answer. "In this world you will have trouble..." We tend to think that peace means having it easy, with no pressure, no hurrying, no trouble at all. Jesus tells us that this simply isn't the case. As long as we live on earth, we will still have trouble. This is a given. Yet, we can have peace.
Our peace does not come in the absence of trials and troubles. it comes in knowing God and trusting his sovereignty. "...take heart! I have overcome the world." Knowing that no matter what happens, God has our backs, now that brings peace!
The apostle Paul understood this. with everything he went through to bring the good news about Jesus to the world beyond Jerusalem and Judea, he still tells us, "...if god is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31). The Old Testament king, David, also learned how to have peace in the midst of great trial and tribulation. Even though his life was in danger, with the enemy army surrounding him and his men, he cried out to God, "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" (Psalm 56:4).
Peace, therefore, is something deeper than a calm, quiet life. Peace is being able to stand firm, unafraid in the middle of even the most difficult circumstance, knowing you have a God you can trust.
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