John 14:27

NASB	NLT	VOICE
27 Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.	27 “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.	27 My peace is the legacy I leave to you. I don’t give gifts like those of this world. Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful.

Peace Leads to Victory

In the context of the Last Supper, Jesus is preparing His soon departure. This peace is a holistic sense of well-being and harmony, which was a connective part of their Jewish culture. Jesus shows that this peace is grounded in our relationship with God, grounded in the assurance of salvation and eternal life. The peace that the world usually offers is only temporary and conditional. Jesus’ peace is unconditional and eternal.

Jesus is reassuring disciples to not be troubled despite the challenges they were facing. To be troubled meant to be agitated or disturbed. The peace that Jesus is leaving them can calm their inner turmoil. Fear is common and natural. It’s a response to uncertainty and danger. Jesus wants us to trust in His power and love in these circumstances. Some of us struggle with an overwhelming sense of fear, through differing mental health disorders. Sometimes prayer isn’t enough on its own. Sometimes we need medication and/or therapy to help us through these moments, but the core focus remains on Jesus – who provides all these sources for us.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: What situations have come up recently that you could use the peace of Christ?

Peace Can Help Us Overcome

I touched on it earlier, but there are many people that have struggled with fear and anxiety throughout their life. It could be as a trauma response, a chemical imbalance, an improper balance of nature vs. nurture, and more. There’s a lot of reasons why people could have a mental disorder when it comes to this, but it is not something that we can truly pray away. Prayer helps. For some people, it can truly resolve their concerns because it can give them something to focus their troubles on. For others, prayer is not enough. It does not mean that God isn’t working for them or that God doesn’t like them. It means we’re just different.

We are different. We are not broken. We are not damaged. We’re different. We may have been through hell, but we’ve made it to today. Some people did not have that ability. Some people succumbed to the weight of their fear and anxieties. They’re not going to hell as a result. They’re not bad people for what happened; they were overwhelmed by their own minds. Those of us that made it to today, it’s a blessing. I do not wish I went through the anxious moments and episodes that led me to where I am. However, I can see where God was in my past, how it led me to my present, and how I can utilize my story for the betterment of my future and for those around me. You can trust in the peace of Christ for this. To be able to find solace with your past, peace with your present, and hope for a better future.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: What does it mean to see where God was on your journey? How can that help your anxiety and fear?

PRAY Action

Praise God for the peace that He gifts. A peace that is not anything like the world can provide.

Read Philippians 4:7

Ask God for understanding of what this peace is about. Seek His ways to embrace what that peace looks like and how you can help to overcome any fears and anxieties with it.

You are not your past. You are not your failures. You are not your mistake. You are a human living in a fallen world.

Next slice of manna: Understanding Divine Peace || Philippians 4:7 || Manna for the Mind #334