“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.”

John 14:27

 

“Peace Be With You.”
You’ve heard it before.
Maybe at church.
Maybe to begin or end a prayer or conversation.
Peace.

 

We don’t always realize that this phrase is given to us by Jesus.
Not some ancient Christian church people, not a theologian or pope, but Jesus.
And Jesus says these words of peace at pretty key times in his ministry:
When Jesus is predicting his death to the disciples, he reminds them “peace I leave with you”
When the disciples are hiding out, huddled in a locked room because they are afraid of what might happen next, Jesus comes into the room and says “my peace be with you.”
And again, when a risen Jesus meets some disciples on the road, he says “my peace be with you”

The key word in each of these instances is “my.”
Peace is a gift from God.
Jesus says point blank to his disciples – you guys, I don’t work like the world works.  What I give is different than what the world gives.
Peace is not found in all those places we try to look for it.
It’s not found in relationships.
It’s not found in possessions.
It’s not found in our health or well-being.
Peace is found through and with God.

It’s a gift.
Already given.

Does your life seem peaceful today?
Does it feel calm and quiet and restful?
Or does it feel chaotic and panicked and fearful?

“Do not let your hearts be troubled”

It seems to be the times when the disciples are the most fearful, the most troubled, the most anxious, that is when Jesus appears and gives them peace.
Like they just needed a reminder.
Hey guys, hey – remember me?  You’ve got this.

The more I think about this, the more I think that trust and peace go hand in hand. Because God has already shown up. God has already said those words to us.

Peace be with you.

YOU.
Not that other guy over there, but you.
And not because of something you did or didn’t do, but simply because God is a God of peace, and you are a chosen and beloved child.  

That’s it.
Those disciples needed the reminder of God’s peace in their most anxious moments.
And so do we.
So here it is.
Jesus is reminding us today to trust.
Trust that God has already given us the peace we so desperately need.

Hey guys, hey – remember me?  You’ve got this.
So do it.
Give yourself a break.

The God of all peace will meet you where you are.

 

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you”

(2 Thessalonians 3:16)