Peace That Lasts

Transcript

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Welcome to Beyond Sunday and day 25 of our series anchored in God's Promise. This month we've been holding on to one promise today, letting God's words set the tone for how we live, think and respond. Today's promise comes straight from the lips of Jesus in John 1427, 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. Let's talk about the gift of peace. Notice the language here. Peace. I leave with you. My peace I give you. Jesus isn't offering advice or even a quick pep talk. He's offering a gift. Peace isn't something you manufacture through perfect circumstances. It's something he places in your heart and he says it's his peace, not the fragile kind the world gives, but the deep lasting peace that comes from himself. Think about how the world usually offers peace. It's conditional, temporary, and often even fragile. Peace is when the bills are paid. Peace is when the kids behave. Peace is when the job is secure. But Jesus says, I'm not giving you peace as the world gives His peace doesn't depend on circumstances. It transcends them. It's why Paul could write from a prison cell about the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. Philippians four, seven, worldly peace. That's the kind of peace that evaporates when life gets hard. But Christ's peace sustains us in the storm. Jesus follows his promise with an instruction. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. That tells us peace is both a gift and a choice. He offers it freely, but we must choose to receive it and rest in it. Sometimes you and I, we forfeit peace because we keep feeding fear doom. Scrolling through the news, obsessing over worst case scenarios or replaying anxious thoughts on a loop. Jesus invites us to lay those things down and instead fix our minds on him. I once heard about a painting competition where the theme was peace. Most artists painted tranquil landscapes, calm lakes, soft sunsets, think quiet meadows. But the winning painting was different. It showed a violent waterfall crashing down rocks were jagged and sharp at the bottom and in the middle of it all. A small bird sat calmly on a branch, tucked safely in the nest behind the falls. That's biblical peace. Not the absence of storms, but the presence of safety within them. So where do you need this kind of peace today? Maybe it's in your mind, anxious thoughts that don't seem to stop. Maybe it's in your home tension or conflict you can't resolve. Maybe it's in your future uncertainty about what's next. Here's the problem. You don't have to wait for your situation to calm down, to experience peace. You can have peace in the middle of it because Jesus is in the middle of it with you. Now, here's your challenge today. Every time you feel stressed rising up today, pause and whisper this prayer. Jesus, thank you for your peace. I choose to rest in it right now. Let his words in John 1427 be louder than your fears. Let's pray together. Lord Jesus, thank you for leaving us your peace. Thank you. That is not temporary or fragile, but lasting and unshakeable. Help us to stop feeding fear and instead rest in your promise. Calm my anxious thoughts, steady our hearts, and teach us to walk in your peace today. Your son's name, amen. Hey, that's it for day 25. If this is encouraged, you share it with someone who's overwhelmed right now. They may need the reminder that Christ's peace is available to them as well. I'll see you back here tomorrow.