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Peace

             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)

I know a few people who are going through some tough times. I’m a little reluctant to share a comforting verse with them because too often, either the words come out as a platitude or we think we’ve done our jobs and can walk away without guilt. I’ve gone through tough times. Oh, they probably weren’t that tough in retrospect, but at the time, I had to credit my responsibilities to my father and my dog with keeping me going. So I’m trying to think about what Jesus said here in light of that experience.

The first thing that comes to mind because of today’s passage is the difference between the peace that Jesus gives and the peace that the world gives. The world tells us that there can only be peace if everything is all better. What this ends up meaning is that peace only exists when everything is as we want it.  But the peace Jesus spoke of was a peace that could get Him through crucifixion and death. It wasn’t easy or pleasant, but Jesus struggled, and He ultimately had peace based on the assurance of God’s love and plan. That sort of peace doesn’t depend on things going our way.

Another thing this verse makes clear is that we have a choice. We can either refuse to let our hearts be troubled and turn to God when things get tough, or we can let our hearts be troubled. We can either not be afraid or be afraid. Jesus tells us what we are to do. If we need help, the Holy Spirit will give it, but we must make a choice.

Recently, John Ortberg referred to something Dallas Willard taught, which is that the heart is not changed by information alone. It is changed by experience. As we struggle with troubles, the choice we make will teach our hearts to trust and have peace, or to not trust and not have peace. It’s like the old Native American story about having two wolves within us. The one that wins is the one we feed.

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