Peace is one of those intangible things we all want, but have a hard time getting. It’s easy to identify the lack of peace -- a knot in your stomach, sleepless nights filled with tossing and turning, worry that eats you up, fear of the unknown, a restless mind you can’t turn off. No matter what it is, it often leads to arguing, stress, and feeling out of control.
But what is peace exactly? Is it half an hour of silence while the kids are napping? Is it a world with no war? Perhaps a zen-like calmness?

For me, peace is knowing without a doubt that it’s going to be OK. It’s all going to work out. Confidence I’ll end up in heaven. A sureness that my life is worth something when it’s all said and done. An assurance that my current situation will get better. Knowing my needs will be met.

Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Jesus gives us his peace. And he gives it generously, not as the world gives. This world is cruel and gives stingily. The world gives only if you can give something back. The world doesn’t care about you until it needs something from you.
Not Jesus. He lavishes his love and peace on us, especially when we have absolutely nothing to give to him.

Because Jesus is so generous with his love and peace, we don’t ever have to be troubled. His peace is available to us. We don’t ever have to fret. We don’t ever have lay awake at night, worry about what will happen, or be subject to an overloaded mind. We don’t have to live with insecurity. Jesus has it under control. Jesus reconciled me – us-- to God through the cross. I can even have peace with death. (Colossians 1:19-20)

I admit, even in the midst of this peace, life still storms around me – in the form of loneliness, tragedy, pain, death. Sometimes I grab my “security blanket” of worry, doubt and insecurity, instead of Jesus’ peace. But I don’t have to, because Jesus has generously given his peace to me.
Lord, would you help me to grab on to your peace, that you so generously give?



Esther is a field leader for MOPS International. Her passion is to encourage others to live fully for Christ. A former science teacher, she has rediscovered her love of words and blogs at http://forsuchatimeasthis-esther.blogspot.com/. Her two daughters love giggling, dressing up and wish they were princesses.