DO NOT be Afraid

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“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.” (John 14:27)

What kind of peace does the world give?

Temporary.

Treaties are made. Treaties are broken. Ceasefires cease sooner or later. Someone looks and lusts; conflict breaks out in the push and pull of political intrigue. Relationships sail along comfortably until the next storm.

That’s not God’s peace. That’s not what Jesus promised as He approaches the epicentre of conflict—His world’s  need to be rid of Him. The political and religious leaders clamour for His death. He knows this. He knows what is coming—the maelstrom in the making. And He speaks of peace that nothing can disturb and tells His disciples not to be troubled and not to be afraid.

It is not a peace conjured up by force of character. Jesus says He is leaving HIS peace with them—the inheritance of those filled with His Spirit. It’s permanent. It’s living, breathing, active. It doesn’t depend on circumstances or emotions. It’s overrides those and overwhelms those—if we allow it to do so.

Our nature is to panic first. Our challenge is to throw ourselves into the arms of the peace giver first and not allow panic to take root and trouble our hearts and let fear fill our minds.

That’s the challenge. But the promise remains. And more than a promise, it is a command. “DO NOT let your hearts be troubled and DO NOT be afraid.” The promise of peace is contingent on our response to the command. And our response to the command depends on how quickly we seek the peace giver when faced with the conflicts of life.