By David ReayThursday 12 Dec 2019LifeWords DevotionalsFaithReading Time: 2 minutes
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 let them be afraid. (NRSV)
In a time of open conflict and warfare we can have peace. Then again, when all seems peaceful on the outside, we can be at war within ourselves. The peace Jesus promises is not quite like peace as the world defines it.
Our world sees peace as the interval between outbreaks of declared war. Or it sees peace as the equivalent of smooth serenity inside and outside. But Jesus’ peace is not as the world sees it.
For example, I may lose much of my material wealth, live in a noisy and polluted landscape, have medical problems that keep multiple specialists busy, and yet still have peace. Or conversely, I may have a wonderful house, a successful job, travel to many exotic places, and not have peace at all.
It seems Jesus’ peace is more to do with a deep realisation that he is with us no matter what. It is not linked to what we have but to who we have. It is not dependent on what is happening in our wider world but what is happening in our deep connection with the Spirit of God. It has to do with our trusting that Jesus has us in his hands.
We can be nervous about things, be concerned about things, not be sure about things, but the bedrock truth of God’s presence is enough to stabilise us at the deepest level. In the end, it seems Jesus’ sort of peace is the peace we have when things are not at all peaceful.
Blessings
David