“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27 NASB)

When Jesus spoke the word, “peace,” storms stopped and seas stilled. This is the peace He offers us. It’s a peace that the world can’t give us. The world’s way is to garner enough resources to prevent trouble. Our peace is found in one relationship despite trouble. The world’s way to peace is to fix the externals; Christ’s peace comes from focusing on the eternal. And, this is vital. 

Our hearts aren’t troubled nor fearful only to the degree they are “fixed on the things above, not on the things of earth” (Col. 3:2). Jesus is presently preparing rooms for our home going (Jn. 14:1). But, “home is where the heart is.” So, if our hearts are troubled and fearful, it’s a pretty good sign we’ve become too at home here. 

Jesus left us His peace to keep us calm despite the storms raging in the world around us. But, we experience this internal peace only by keeping an eternal perspective. This is the way to the “peace of God that passes understanding” (Phil. 4:7)

© Paul R Downing