One-minute read.
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.
John 14:27
“Eirene,” the original Greek word for peace, means harmony, tranquility, safety, welfare, and health, with an emphasis on lack of strife or reconciliation in a relation, as when one has “peace with God.” Discovering peace through Jesus comes when we place our faith in Him instead of things in the world. Submission differs from obedience. Submitting our lives to Christ means acknowledging that He sees the whole picture.
When Ron and I went to the Player’s Golf tournament in Florida, we chose a hole and sat by the green, waiting for our favorite golfers to play through. When we watch golf from the comfort of our living room, we have a broader perspective as the camera switches from one hole to the next, able to watch multiple players simultaneously. In the same way, in life, our horizontal perspective only sees the green in front of us. But God’s vertical perspective sees all 18 holes. Making peace with God means accepting that He sees the whole course while we only see one hole.
And once we accept the peace God offers, we trust His authority. As life unfolds, we submit to the Lord’s leading, knowing He has a plan and purpose for us we can’t see. Giving up control, we let Jesus take the wheel of our life, steering us wherever He wants to take us. We need not worry about the challenges that arise; obstacles represent future victories to the Lord. Faith overcomes fear as we move forward, one millimeter at a time. The Lord’s peace rules in our lives the more we let go and let God.
Journaling Questions:
Where do you lack peace in your life?
How does giving control to God make you feel?
What area of your life do you feel God’s peace most?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for giving us peace and helping us give control of our lives to You. When we struggle to let go, give us the courage to trust You more. Let us live in peace with You.
IJNIP. Amen
[1] NIV Exhaustive Concordance Dictionary Copyright © 2015 by Zondervan.
