Finding Peace in the Fray
Photo image courtesy Getty Images for Unsplash
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. -- John 14:27 (NLT)
I complained to my husband the other day about all the pop-up ads that spark an adrenaline rush online. It’s relentless. Then the news overwhelms us with all the horrible things going on in our world—even in our neighborhoods. When we drive on our roads, pushers, red-light runners, and race-car wannabes wreck our nerves as we go for groceries or to attend church. Our hustle culture adds to the nerve-wracking mix. In all this stress, we want to quell the noise, the worries. What we truly yearn for is peace.
The disciples were overwhelmed by some news Jesus shared with them. In John 14, the apostle John tells of a moment that Jesus spent with His disciples preparing them for His departure. They had taken part in the Last Supper, the Passover Seder meal Jesus wanted to share with them before His death. He let them know He would be leaving them, but He would send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to them. As anxiety mounted, He told them, “I am leaving you with a gift, peace of mind and heart…” He wouldn’t leave them alone. They needed the peace He gives, because the world certainly wouldn’t. He left them with this: don’t be troubled or afraid.
I’ve learned to let go of many things over the years, like trying to control what I cannot. I don’t worry about the bad drivers on the road as long as I can avoid accidents. I cover those annoying ads when I’m online. I curate the news by picking and choosing what I read or don’t read, and headlines can be enough. As for hustle culture, let them knock themselves out.
Stepping back from stressors and taking charge of fear of missing out syndrome (FOMO) to decide what you can control versus what you cannot is the first step toward peace. Let go. The most important step is abiding in the Lord by reading His Word and meditating on the passages you read, not as the world meditates, but contemplating them in open communication with God. We can trust Him with everything.
Our world won’t give us peace, will it? The same Holy Spirit Jesus sent to the disciples is also with us. He gives us peace.
Questions for Reflection:
1. How can you minimize stressors spurred on by outside influences?
2. How will you let the Holy Spirit bring peace into your life?
