26 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. 27 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.
There are times in our lives when our peace is based simply on our own ignorance — we are peaceful because we choose to be blind to the realities set before us. But when we are awakened to the realities in front of us, we must realize that true peace is impossible unless it is received from Jesus. When Christ speaks peace, He creates peace, because the words that He speaks are always “spirit, and they are life”.
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
I know there is something troubling you right now — you are afraid and confused by the uncertainity and challenges that God has sovereignly allowed to enter your life. These challenges are making it difficult for you to find peace, joy, and comfort because you have reached the limits of your own capabilities — this means you must surrender, you must look up and receive the quiet contentment of Jesus. Reflecting His peace is proof that you are right with God, because you are exercising the freedom to turn your mind to Him. If you are not right with God, you can never turn your mind anywhere but on yourself — this “inner peace” is just a lie, nothing that you can do will bring you true peace.
Simply put, are you “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2) and receiving peace from Him? If so, He will be a gracious blessing of peace exhibited in and through you. But if you only try to worry your way out of the difficulty, the uncertainity, the challenge — you will destroy His effectiveness in you, and you will remain disappointed that you are not able to pull yourself up out of this difficulty, this uncertain time. You are troubled because you have not been taking Jesus into account. When you look to Jesus for peace, the confusion stops, because there is no confusion in Him — you are the one who provides the confusion. Your fears and common sense, your inability to understand your situation and will yourself into peace, you provide the confusion and anxiety — so STOP! Lay everything out before Him, trust Him with your difficulty and listen to Him say, “Let not your heart be troubled”.
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Credit:
Portions of this devotion were inspired by the daily devotions of My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers. Learn more about Oswald Chambers and get his daily devotions at https://utmost.org/