LEGACY OF PEACE

Peace^G1515 I leave with you; My peace^G1515 I give to you.

I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.

John 14:27

Jesus gives us perfect peace. His peace is not dependent upon circumstances. We can have His peace in the middle of chaos because God is amazing, He’s awesome, He’s all-powerful. It is an all-consuming peace that envelopes the believer like a father’s arms fold around a frightened child. Stuff is still going on, but the child feels safe in daddy’s embrace. There is a famous painting titled “Peace in the Midst of the Storm” by Jack E. Dawson.  There are several hidden images in it, but the best known is a perfect illustration of the peace that Jesus left as a legacy to all who would believe. In the middle of a violent storm with crashing waves, a white bird (dove?) has found quiet refuge in a cleft of the rocky cliff. The bird is completely undisturbed even though the tumult seems to be swirling around it.

The peace the Lord grants us is not an absence of trouble but confidence that God will see us through the storm. Jesus does not take away every uncomfortable or even painful experience, but He does enable us to be calm and peaceful not just after a trial but during it. Do you have this kind of peace? It is available to all who trust in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior. It is evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit within us.

Father, we thank You for Your peace that replaces our anxiety when we cast our cares on You.

Worship along with Guy Penrod singing “He Hideth My Soul”: