Cindy Donaldson

John 14:27
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. 

Reflection:
The church I attended as a young adult had this passage from John 14:27 above the door of the sanctuary so that you’d read it upon departing the church – “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.” I would leave almost every Sunday wondering what the difference was between God’s peace and the world’s peace. Isn’t any kind of peace good peace, I’d wonder? Of course, at this point in my spiritual journey, I didn’t truly know God’s peace. 

Perhaps you’ve heard commentary on the difference between joy and happiness. Joy is deep and abiding. It is not easily knocked off course and even persists amid suffering. Just look at Paul, whose joy sustained him through imprisonment, shipwrecks, bodily inflictions, and so on. Happiness – by contrast – is pleasant, of course. But it is also a surface-level emotion and easily fleeting when faced with adversity. 

We can compare God’s peace with joy, and the world’s peace with happiness. God’s peace came upon me two years ago when my love for Jesus reached a new depth, and I felt a calling upon my life to serve God. This peace serves as my armor. There will be trouble, there will be highs and lows, but this peace produces a shelter through even the fiercest storm. It reorders my priorities and my concerns and gives me the long view. My thinking became: The creator of the universe loves me and has claimed me as his own, and I have professed in my heart to love him back and let him lead my life. There are not any roadblocks from daily living that can change or take away any of that. The peace that comes with this security is indescribable. 

How does the world give peace? The world gives peace contingent on circumstances – a job you’re happy with, a negative test result, when your children get along, and so on. These are all wonderful things, and certainly blessings. However, if the peace fades when the circumstances change, then it’s as fleeting as all else in our world. It is not the peace described in Philippians 4:6 – “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When we fully receive the peace of God, we can experience assurance—assurance that the divine Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of all that is good holds us in the palm of God’s hand. 

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I pray for the gift of your peace upon all who seek it. I pray that this peace sustains me all my days and that I can see your glorious love and presence in my life. In Jesus’ most holy name I pray. Amen.