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. What did Jesus mean when he said, "My peace I give you." Does it mean that we will not face hardships anymore? That only smooth and calm Waters lie ahead of us?
To me, it means that in the midst of stormy Waters he will be my anchor. He will be the one holding me in the storm. Jesus left his words with his disciples knowing that they worlds are going to be shaken in the coming days, when he will be arrested and then crucified. This passage starts with Jesus introducing the Holy Spirit to his disciples. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him, but you know him, for he is with you and he will live in you.
Seventeen years ago. We were getting ready to go into missions. I was pregnant with David and Michael was almost 3 years old. We asked God to promise us that he will take care of us and the answer came, "Who do you think was taking care of you until now?" He did not promise that we will not face hardships. He promised that he will be with us. Looking Back Now I can see how God has never left us on our own. From the day we moved through David's birth, through every year, not knowing if we would be able to pay for our studies or our children's school fees. Year after year God provided. Did we experience his peace every time? No! We had to learn how to trust God. It was his peace that helped us when we wanted to give up. And still now His peace floods my soul when I come to him. I don't know what will happen tomorrow, but I do know He is there.
We had and still have challenges with Michael's Health this year. I remember one morning in church during worship, I experienced an overwhelming sense of anxiety. My mind kept on going to "What if? What if this is something serious? What if he dies?" And then all of a sudden I just experienced this reassurance of, "Will you trust me?"
At that moment. I knew that I wasn't capable to change the situation, and that I need to surrender my child to God. We often sing, "I surrender all" but do we really surrender all? The moment I surrendered, I experienced peace flooding over all my anxieties. Did the situation change? No. While preparing this we were waiting for bone marrow results. But I now know that no matter what happens, I am not alone and that my Lord will not let me go when the storms come.
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. When we enter into this Christmas season, let's remember the reason we celebrate.
May this peace guide us, for we know our Savior lives!