Where Do YOU Find Peace?

Where Do YOU Find Peace?

What's the very first thing which pops into your mind, no over thinking it, just your immediate response, when you hear the word, "peace"?

For me, this is what I visualize: 

The sun is descending below the horizon and the sky is brushed in a magnificent array of pink, yellow and orange, as the waves of the ocean are gently lapping against the brilliant white sands of the shoreline.
Ahhh, such a calm painting of pure peace and tranquility!

And yet, as peaceful as that scene may be, it's fleeting!

I can't possibly sit on the beach every evening waiting for the sun to go down so I can find my peace!  

Or what about the evenings when a storm is brewing and the sky is anything but pretty, but instead is dark, gloomy and overcast?

Then where do I find my peace and contentment?

Must I Google "beautiful sunsets" and look at pictures to help me find my calm reassurance and serenity?  

Maybe your peace is in a relationship? Whether it's a child, spouse, grandchild, parent or best friend.

Relationships are definitely a huge necessity in life, but people aren't perfect, and they will fall short of our expectations. When this happens, relationships may be broken, and in the process, our peace and satisfaction may be shattered.

Possibly you find contentment and security in your career? But what happens on that dreaded day when the company decides to downsize, and all you're left with is a pink slip, confusion and no peace whatsoever?

Or maybe those of us who deal with a chronic illness try to find peace in our doctors?

I'm blessed to have some of the best doctors around, and their greatest desire is to aid in my healing process, but like so many dealing with chronic illness, there is no quick fix, there is no cure.

At the end of the day, they can prescribe medications and lend a listening ear, but they are limited in their capabilities to provide what I truly am seeking after, which may not always necessarily be healing, but peace.

I'd like to share some words which Jesus shared with His disciples during the Last Supper. 

In this passage of Scripture, Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure.

For His impending death.

At this point, the disciples had absolutely no comprehension of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection.

They had no idea that His leaving would bring nothing but victory!

All the disciples could grasp was that their teacher, mentor, friend was leaving them.

They had spent every day with Jesus for the past three years, and now they are faced with the thought of life without Him. 

I'm so thankful these words of comfort hold true, not just for the disciples of Jesus which were gathered around Him at the Last Supper, but for EVERY true disciple of Jesus from that day, up until now, and for all who will come to know Him as Saviour in the days to come.  

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
John 14:27

Notice in the verse that Jesus says that He gives HIS peace, not the peace which the world has to offer.  

There is a vast difference between the peace of Jesus and the peace of the world.  

The peace the world attempts to provide is conditional, fragile, temporary, fleeting, based totally upon good circumstances and happy relationships. 

The peace of Jesus is constant, unchanging, solid, everlasting, never EVER based upon circumstances whether good or bad.

I would add that the peace of Jesus is unconditional, but there is one condition to having the peace of Jesus.

At this point you may say, "Barb, I'm confused. I would never think the peace of Jesus would have a string attached to it?"

Let me explain.

The ONLY way to know the peace of Jesus is to know Jesus as your personal Saviour.

God longs to have peace and reconciliation with each and every one of us, however, our sin interferes with us having peace with Him. That's exactly why God sent His only Son to die on the cross.  

Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection not only provides forgiveness of our sins, but it also enables us to have peace with God.

Once we place our total faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ to take away our sins.

Once we make it personal.

Once we give up on religion, good works or being a great person.

Once we rely TOTALLY upon Jesus to forgive us of our sins, then, and only then, are we forgiven and reconciled to The Father. Then we not only have peace with God, but as a believer, we also have the peace of Jesus living and abiding in and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit!

www.castingyourcare.org

So you see, as believers in Jesus Christ, the peace which Jesus gives is really HIMSELF!

Jesus
living
and
abiding
within us!

I'd like to share from a mother who recently has been called to walk through the valley of the shadow of death when the Lord called her sixteen-year-old daughter home to Heaven.

"Yesterday, we had to lay her to rest. Her celebration of life was set for noon. If you had asked me at 8 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., or even at 11:59 if I could do it, the answer would've been a resounding NO! I could feel panic attacks coming on and I didn't see how it was going to be possible. But you know what? God doesn't give you the grace you're going to need next week, tomorrow or even next hour. Our God isn't a wasteful God! He gives you what you need right when you need it.

As we walked into the sanctuary, a presence of the Holy Spirit flooded my soul like I had never felt before. Peace that passes all understanding filled my heart. I leaned over to my husband and said, 'I've never felt such peace!'  He said, 'Me neither.'  

I can't explain it. It's hard to put into words. Heaven seems so close and Jesus has never felt more real. I'll never worship the same. I'll never praise His name the same."

That, my friends
IS
the peace
of Jesus
experienced
in real life
by real people
just like
you and me! 

The peace that passes all understanding.

www.castingyourcare.org

Do you have the peace of Jesus living within you?

If not, please trust Jesus as your personal Saviour today.

If you need more information in coming to know Jesus as your personal Saviour, PLEASE don't hesitate to contact me at barb@castingyourcare.org

 

 

 

 


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May God Bless You,

Barb

4 Comments

  • Linda

    January 25, 2017 at 9:09 pm Reply

    How true, Barb - Jesus himself is our peace. When the storms of life come - and they do - His Peace is there for those that know Him as Saviour and Lord.
    I pray that someone, somewhere, reading this post opens their heart, their life to Jesus and comes to knows Him as Saviour - and so know His peace.
    Dear friend, you are a shining light for Him in your corner of the Internet. Love you and send hugs across the seas - and hope your special day was super, extra special.❤

  • Barb

    January 25, 2017 at 9:39 pm Reply

    Thank you, Linda, once again for your words of encouragement. And that, too, is my exact prayer that someone will read the post and come to trust Christ as their Saviour and in doing so know the only peace that there is Jesus Himself.

    I did have a very special birthday. I felt well enough to go out for a late lunch to Red Lobster with my beloved! And thank you so very much for the sweet email card.

    I love you bunches ❤ upon bunches ❤

  • Diane Burke

    January 26, 2017 at 7:11 pm Reply

    So good again, Barb. I've shared on Facebook and book marked the page. I'll be able to revisit when hormanal panic revisits me! Oh, and the song is beautiful, a perfect choice. Thanks for blessing my day!

  • Barb

    January 26, 2017 at 8:17 pm Reply

    Oh, Diane, you just have NO idea how your words have encouraged me!
    God's timing is perfect. I've been having a really rough week, guess I need to go back and reread what I wrote!
    I praise the Lord that He used the words which He gave to me to bless and encourage you.
    God bless you my friend

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