Let there be peace...

"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 14:27

"Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

I have come face to face with the reality that my heart is both troubled, and I am afraid.  

While the verse begins with Jesus sharing his peace with us, I am surrounded by my own troubles and fears.  Somewhere in the midst of our chaotic world, there still exists this peace.  I am reminded that peace still exists.  We must be willing to allow the place for it to appear.

Peace, for me, is the emotion I identify with faith.

Sometimes I wonder if we consider peace to be an adjective to describe our faith, or as the manifestation of how God is present and watching over us?

It seems that the days we now encounter require disturbance, anxiety, or uncertainty. It seems as if there are demands on us that then begin to characterize our life. It brings about anything but peace.

But Christ reminds us that peace is an important factor in our faith. It is the very thing he proclaims is left for us.

How different would our life be if we proclaimed peace instead of spending all our time seeking answers?  How different would our life be if we practiced peace, rather than trying to find a new way to get even?  Or how different would our life be if we simply allowed that peace of Christ to move us to extend it to others?

May the peace of Christ, along with the understanding of just how that peace can make your faith visible to others, while calming your life, fill you today and always.

Stay in God's grip!

G. Todd Williams (c) 2020