Peace - the Answer to Fear

 

“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. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.” (John 14:25-31 ESV).

 

The time passes so quickly that it is often difficult to imagine. That is especially true of difficult “good-byes.” In 2015 we said goodbye to friends and a dearly loved community in Tennessee, we left with tears in our eyes. The picture I’ve attached was taken in front of our church on Easter Sunday. Our friends in Santa Fe, Tennessee, are still dearly beloved, but it is not the same living so far away geographically. Transitions can be difficult. They leave us with unsettled feelings and uncertainty about the road ahead. They leave us with troubled hearts and almost anything but peace.

 

As Jesus prepared his disciples for his departure, he promised that they would receive the Holy Spirit and that he would come back one day. He had prepared them well for what was next. But I think he knew that this transition would still be very difficult for them. He knew they would have a lot of fear about what the future had in store. So, he gave them this message of peace—saying that he would give them his peace.

 

Transitions are just one thing that can bring about fear in our lives. Fear of what lies ahead and fear of the unknown can be very strong. But all our fears can be overcome by the Lord’s peace, which he gives us each day.

 

When your life is filled with lots of changes and unknowns, turn to the peace that Jesus has promised. The peace that he has given can bring us through times of trouble and fear.