At Peace

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” John 14:27 (NIV)

What does peace mean to you? What does it look like in your life? What does it feel like? Oftentimes I hear the word peace thrown around in our lives quite often. The thought that once we get caught up on that one credit card bill then we will be at peace. If we just get that promotion at work then we will be at peace. If our kids get into the college of their choice then we will be at peace. If we just get through this week then we will finally be at peace. In all of these scenarios, peace is an outcome. It is dependent on a certain action. It, in a sense, is transactional due to the if-then nature of it, but what if ultimate peace was not transactional? What if it was not an if-then kind of ordeal? The truth is, it isn’t! God did not say if you do this then I will give you peace. God has given us peace! No transaction needs to be made, so why is it that we are constantly searching for it in our lives? Lord, today I ask you that we may all be reminded of what is true - that you have given us peace. No earthly action, object, person, or thing can give it to us. Your peace is the ultimate peace. It cannot be taken away from us. Lord, today may we all just stop and recognize where in our lives we may be struggling and fighting to find peace. May we lay that burden down before you. I ask that we can all have a better understanding of what peace truly is and let us not get caught up in what our human definition of peace is. Amen, Brooke