In John 14:27 Jesus promised His followers peace, His peace. Peace is not only the absence of war and strife, which is rampant in the world, but more importantly peace is a state of tranquility, rest, and calm regardless of the surrounding circumstances. This is the kind of peace Jesus promised in John 16:33 when He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; (pressure, stress, adversity, and the like) but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (Comment added) This is His peace and it is not given like the world gives peace; it does not come from surrounding circumstances. The story has been told of three artists that were commissioned to paint a picture of peace. Two of them painted tranquil scenes in which all the surrounding conditions seemed perfect, the kind of peaceful setting the world dreams of for a perfect vacation, but can never quite attain. The third artist painted a picture of a raging storm, but perched calmly on the limb of a tree that was being tossed back and forth by the wind was a little bird seemingly not to even notice the circumstances; that my friend, is the kind of peace Jesus promised and gives.
Peace That’s Real
-By Rose Hill
A troubled heart is not for me,
Jesus said afraid I should not be.
In the world there is much to fear,
But Jesus promised to be near.
Contentment in my heart I feel,
For He gives to me a peace that’s real.