Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27
“I want peace like they have.”
These comparison statements suggest we cannot have the same thing as someone else. If I want a car like yours, I do not go in your garage and take your car (that’s stealing). I go to the dealership and get my own. They are different but similar.
Do we ever think of peace the same way? I want peace like someone else has.
Even as believers, we are often amazed at peace people have when their world is turned completely upside down. I have witnessed others praise and worship God even with a child diagnosed with leukemia, husband on ventilator with COVID-19, loss of a parent, or child’s prolonged tiredness ultimately diagnosed as heart failure. They face heart-wrenching agony with an unwavering trust in God.
Each time I recognize that it is a peace that only God can give. However, after meditating on John 14, I realize it is not just the peace God gives … it is the peace Christ left for us!
Read John 14:27 again. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
They have the peace Christ left. So do I! So do you if you have confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believed in your heart that God raised him from the dead!
We do not need a peace like someone else. They do not have a special peace available when times are extremely hard.
The peace I relied on in numerous trials is the same peace that carried them.
Jesus left HIS peace.
Jesus did not promise peace of a trouble-free life. In fact, he told us we would have trials and tribulations. Jesus does promise the disciples his peace amid life’s storms.
What peace did Jesus leave for them and us? The promise of our eternally restored relationship with God.
He gave more than a solution to one situation; he gave us a relationship. Our eternal relationship with God is the game changer! A relationship that lasts longer than today, this week or this year. We take great comfort in our relationship with God for eternity.
adrienne gaines
Jesus modeled for us how to trust in our relationship with God.
Jesus knew beforehand about the religious leaders plot to kill him, the betrayal of Judas, the hatred of the world, the flogging, and the crucifixion. Twice John tells us Jesus is troubled in his soul because the time has come (John 12:27 and 13:21). Our Savior knows exactly how it feels to be troubled and disturbed.
How could Jesus be disturbed yet continue on? He trusted His Father. No matter what he faced, Jesus trusted his relationship with His Father. He trusted God’s purpose and plan.
Even with a troubled spirit, Jesus still prepared his disciples before his arrest, death, and resurrection.
Imagine how catastrophic this is for the disciples. He tells them of the betrayal, Peter’s impending denial, all the disciples falling away, and that he is leaving them. His preparation troubled them greatly. The answer for their troubled souls was the same answer for His troubled soul. Peace! Take comfort in relationship with God.
Unlike Jesus, we do not know what will turn our lives upside down. But we have a promise that the peace of Christ will carry us through. In Christ, we have a restored relationship with God. And it is in that relationship that we draw strength to face each day.
When we are overwhelmed, we turn to God. We rely on our relationship with God. We put our trust in the peace Christ left us.
When we do not know what to do, we cry out to God. We rely on our relationship with God. We put our trust in the peace Christ left us.
Some circumstances are minor inconveniences, but some take our breath away. No matter what the circumstance, we can trust God.
I do not know what you are facing today, but I know the peace of Christ is enough.
We need the peace of Christ.
If you do not have this peace, I would love to talk with you about Jesus. Click the link provided in my bio (go to Contact Me) to send me a message and let’s connect.
Adrienne Gaines is a Christ follower, wife, and mother of three very active kids. She recently became an ordained minister. She has been teaching God’s word for 20 years and recently began pursuing her call from God to write. You can follow her new blog at https://adriennegaines.com.
We thank you, Adrienne, for your contribution to this month’s publication of Titus-two.com, talking about the Peace of Christ.
You are loved to Heaven and Back ~~
LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary
Titus Two 
Oh Lord how I desperately need Your peace as I try so hard to surrender what’s going on in my life to You. Lord please fill me and help me to be all that my Mom needs as I care for her. While my heart breaks for not being able to be with my son, daughter in love and our precious little guy that will be here any day. As I see all of our plans unraveling and trying to hard to keep my eyes on You, seek You and trust completely in You!
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Sharon, I pray the peace of God will carry you through this time. Praying for strength each day as you care for your mother and for the healthy, safe arrival for your grandson. When our plans unravel, may we know that God’s plans have never unraveled. He’s always known for all of eternity where you are right now and what you would be facing in the future. He will carry you through. I pray that as you walk each day that he gives you a sweet time of worship with Him that helps you surrender to his will. Love your sister in Jesus, Adrienne
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Adrienne, thank you for your beautiful, inspiring, and encouraging words. I needed to read these words this morning … more importantly, GOD knew I needed to “hear” these words this morning – as I’ve been praying & beating myself up over an assignment for Him last night that “I” feel I failed miserably at; asking His forgiveness for letting Him down … letting His daughters down. It’s a new “assignment “ that I’m still learning & I wanted to do it perfectly, but I did not – so – thank you for reminding me of His peace that I needed to feel today. Hugs & Blessings, Sister ❤️
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Kathy, God never ceases to amaze me on his timing. Praying God’s comfort through his peace. He still does great things through us as we learn. He sees your surrendered heart and knows how to work through our imperfections. Praying for your new assignment that God will impact lives through you and that you will grow closer to Him. Hugs and Blessings to you too sweet Sister!
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