By Kevin Weeks

Jesus said, “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 have returned to this verse several times over the past year out of great need. They are words of hope for a weary soul.
 
Jesus said these words to his disciples while his cross waited around the next corner. He was also preparing his disciples for his soon departure and for the unknown difficulties that waited for them around their next corner.
 
Jesus knew that his followers most needed peace in their hearts despite their many troubles. He also knows that’s what you and I need.
 
I’m writing to you today because, despite our many troubles, I long for you to have that peace from Jesus, too.
 
What in the World Is Going On?
 
A few weeks back, I sat on my couch and watched footage of the protests, riots, and insurrection in Washington, D.C., and wept. The civil unrest, political pettiness, and self-righteous violence are a burden that is too heavy to bear.
 
Then, we all heard the news of our imminent return to Square One in our fight against a year-long pandemic, the burden grew heavier still. 
 
As I digested the announcement of the stay-at-home order, it hit me like a fresh wave that there are some people in our church family I haven’t seen in person for almost a full year. Some who I haven’t seen at all. There is no judgement in that statement; if anything, there’s much grace. It’s simply an observation that (speaking transparently) breaks my heart and makes me sad.
 
Life is hard these days for everyone. Perhaps it’s helpful for you to know that it’s hard for pastors, too. I see the weariness every week in our staff and our elders who are trying their best to shepherd and lead when we can’t even be in the same room as you. Most people don’t see how they walk with a limp because they’ve listened to another opinion or complaint about the pandemic that was spoken with more political zeal than Christian love. Not to mention the embarrassing in-fighting and name-calling among Christians across the wider Church. 
 
As Jesus would say, my heart has been troubled. A lot. At times, my heart has even been afraid. Afraid not only of our future but also of the growing instability of our present.
 
Thankfully, Jesus had more to say.
 
Real Peace
 
What strikes me most about Jesus’ statement in John 14:27 is that his greatest concern—knowing his horrific death was literally only hours away—was that the people he loved would have peace.
 
Not just any peace. Real peace. His peace. The kind of lasting and perfect peace that you and I crave.
 
Jesus says that it’s not a peace the world can give to you. Pay close attention to that. The end of a pandemic will not give you peace. A vaccine will not give you peace. Being released from a lockdown will not give you peace. A politician of any persuasion will not give you peace. Winning a debate will not give you peace. The latest report or theory will not give you peace. And maybe most importantly, being “right” will not give you peace.
 
Jesus gives peace.
 
We need to hear this again during these days because we often worry and fear and think and speak like peace depends on us, not on Jesus. Even still, in all the unhinged craziness of our world—knowing that, maybe, your heart has been troubled and afraid like few other times in your life—he wants you to have his peace.
 
Jesus’ peace is unshakeable, unflappable, immoveable. He is the author of peace, and he wants to give you his peace.
 
He wants you to know his peace.
 
He wants your heart to be softened and your life to be changed by his peace even when the cracks in this broken world grow wider and deeper.
 
He wants his peace to reign in our hearts. What a loving Saviour.
 
A Word of Encouragement
 
Loved ones, my heart longs for you to have this peace. But implied in Jesus’ statement is that to have this peace, we must take our eyes off a world that guarantees nothing and fix our gaze on him. The only remedy for a heart troubled by this world is for this benevolent, compassionate, peace-providing Jesus to be worth more to you than anything this troubling world can offer.
 
This pandemic and all its adjoining unrest have rightly awakened in us a longing for a new world, a better world where the Ultimate Peace-Giver will wipe away every tear from our eyes, a world where death will be no more, a world noticeably absent of mourning or crying or pain or viruses or pandemics or protests or riots or pettiness or in-fighting or isolation or loneliness or distancing because all the former things have passed away and he has finally made everything new (Revelation 21:4).  
 
Friends, let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 
 
Jesus stands ready to calm your fear and steady your troubled heart.

Are you searching for peace? One lucky commenter will receive a FREE PDF of Kevin’s book, Anxiety Attack. The winner will be randomly drawn on March 11, 2021. To enter, leave a comment and share what Scripture verse or verses have most encouraged you during this time.