The Gift of Peace

 

[Jesus said] “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:25-27 ESV).

 

There aren’t any of us that don’t experience some level of fear at times. I must confess that most critters don’t cause me any fear. However, snakes are a different kind of critter, especially those that are big enough to swallow me whole. Let me explain. When I was the pastor at Santa Fe Baptist Church in Tennessee, we had a traditional children’s night when we invited a local wildlife biologist to come with some of his animals to explain God’s creation during our Vacation Bible School. One year he brought an eight foot long yellow python. Throughout the presentation I managed to stay as far away as possible and still remain in the room. Toward the end of the presentation Bob (the biologist) asked the children, “Wouldn’t you like to see Brother Don hold the snake?” Well, the result is pictured here! I actually did well until the snake turned his head to face me with what I thought was a look that said, “Yep, I could eat him.”

 

That was a moment completely devoid of peace. We’ve all experienced such a time. Anxious, feeling uneasy, we simply don’t have peace about a situation. What keeps us from experiencing peace?  Maybe it’s the anxiousness and unrest we allow to invade our minds; or, maybe it’s doing one of the dumbest things you could do… like draping an eight foot python around your neck. Regardless, the truth of Advent is that God is there to still our souls and guard our hearts.

 

Jesus’ promise is the presence of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this peace. As silly as it sounds, my fear, though real, was nothing compared to the power of God’s presence within me. I suppose this experience is really quite minor compared to other experiences. Those visits with the doctor when they reveal some life threatening or debilitating disease has wrapper itself around our bodies; those sudden crises when our financial freedom evaporates in a matter of months; or, when we hear the rejection of someone we love as they walk out of our lives. Those are the real fears. Even then Jesus tells us to trust Him completely, praise Him in all things and remember His faithfulness. He is the ultimate giver of peace in all things!