Enduring Peace

I can't believe that we are in week four now of living in this pandemic. As an introvert, this quarantine is just about a dream come true... but I really do miss seeing my lovely friends and going to the best church. It's been so weird for sure. Priorities and plans have changed and it's all for the better. I may not get to be intentional with people during this time, but it sure is a season for intentionally learning and discovering who God is and how he sees me. It's also been such a great time alone with my family and dogs of course!! I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to write about today, but God put it on my heart that I needed to write. I was struggling with writing this because I often downplay myself and experiences, but God has been constantly reminding me that in him I am enough and I am well equipped by his Holy Spirit.

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This is a word I've struggled to understand or comprehend most of my life: Peace. I wasn't too sure what it means exactly to have peace or to be peaceful. Having peace in the midst of chaos is an even bigger concept. You hear it all the time of people "finding inner peace" or doing whatever they think is best to gain that feeling. By definition, peace means, "freedom from disturbance; tranquility" or "a state or period in which there is no war or a war has ended".

God has revealed to me that peace isn't a feeling. It's not a force, nor is it a state of mind. Peace is a person that has been given to us from our Father because of what Jesus' ministry did. Jesus sent to us the Holy Spirit to remain and reside within us.

John 14:26-7 says that, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all the things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you, peace I give to you."

Jesus promises us that we will have peace. He refers to the Holy Spirit as "the Helper" because that is exactly who he is. The Holy Spirit is not a force or ghost; he is a person that is alive and he speaks truth from the Father. God has given us his voice and his word so that we may have peace. John later writes about Jesus' last few moments before his betrayal:

"So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." -John 16:22

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." -John 16:33

Jesus doesn't discount the fact that there is still chaos and trials in the world, and he knows that while we are in it we will experience pain, but because of his selfless act of obedience in love, we will NEVER experience death. He promises that our joy can never be taken from us... no matter what!! His book isn't just the greatest love story, but it was written for us to seek and find his truth.

Let's go back to our original definitions: "freedom from disturbance; tranquility" and "a state or period in which there is no war or a war has ended". Friend I am so happy to say that God took care of this. When he went to the cross, died, and rose again... he WON the battle of life over death!! The victory is God's and because of his gift of grace it is also ours to rejoice in. There is no war because the war has already been claimed. God's truth surpasses the unknown. He goes before us; we are never alone because he is within us.

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To make this relevant to whats going on in the world, God knew this was going to happen. He created the world and everything in it. He created our individual lives and time is always in his hands. Our God is above all and nothing will happen out of his commands. We are set free from sin and from death because Jesus loved us because the Father loved first. COVID-19 is something the world is experiencing for the first time, but God already knew this was coming. We can have peace knowing that he is in complete control because he has overcome the world. Walk boldly into the future because God has already been there.