“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
-John 14:27
Whenever I read the words “do not be afraid,” I try to pay attention. So often I struggle with fear. Fear of not having enough, fear of not being enough, fear of failure, fear of loss… the list goes on. So when I read an instruction like this, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid,” I want to lean in and listen close.
This command feels impossible for me to follow some days, until I shift my focus to the first half of the verse. Before God says to not fear, He talks about leaving us with PEACE. He talks about how He doesn’t give like the world gives. We don’t have to earn His love or His peace. He gives it freely. He offers it always and it His peace and love and grace NEVER run out. So if I can shift my focus to whatever I am letting trouble my heart to His love, to His peace and grace, to His face, my heart will begin to settle down. He offers us peace that is available at all times, so Lord, help me continue to take hold of the peace You offer freely, and let it change the way I walk through fear and trouble.
