"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to 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 ESV).
I remember the suns soft early morning light casting the autumn tree colors unto the still glassy water as I took this picture of a little Red Headed Grebe fishing for breakfast. I was grieving and felt broken inside but as I sat in the warm sun light taking in God's beautiful creation, His peace and presence became so real to me in that moment.
Jesus speaks these words to his disciples as the time of his departure is near. When Jesus speaks notice the emphasis He makes on "my peace." He is about to impart to them a peace He posses. Remember the words of the angels as they announced His birth, "peace on earth...." After defeating death by raising from the dead, "He is our peace." Now as He is about to ascend into heaven, He leaves the disciples a beautiful gift, His peace!
Unlike the temporary fleeting peace the world has to give, The peace from Jesus would stay with his disciples. It is in the most difficult times of our lives that His peace steadies our hearts and keeps us.
Notice that Jesus gives His peace then says to his disciples, "let not your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."He knows that His peace is more than able to keep the disciples from being troubled or afraid.
Their is uncertainty about what lies ahead for the disciples, but there is a PEACE that goes with them that will keep them and guard their hearts.
We look to the future with uncertainty now too, but let us not forget that we too have been imparted this beautiful gift of His peace, so let us have the courage to receive it as it will guard or hearts too.
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