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.
- John 14:27 (NIV)
This week we are taking a closer look at a word that often evades our daily reality: peace. We’re talking about inner peace—not the global, social peace that Miss USA always says she’d “wish for.” First, we need to recognize that “peace” does not mean the absence of conflict. Rather, peace is a state of mind and a posture of heart that we have regardless of the inevitable trials lurking around the corner.
I don’t know you, but I bet I can guess at least two things about you. Ready?
- You want to have this peace.
- You try to control the outcome of things in your life.
Did I get it?
Well, I have bad news and good news. First, the bad news: you can’t have both. Sorry, reader—you can’t. It’s actually not possible. Yet we often operate as if we can. We say we want to have peace, but at the same time we try to control the outcomes of so many things in our lives—our health, our relationships, our bank accounts, and so on.
If you’re attempting to control the outcome of anything in your life, it is not possible to have peace with that same thing. Having true peace while simultaneously attempting to control our outcomes is like a polar bear trying to live in the desert—it’s not possible.
Now for the good news: in comes Jesus! According to him, peace is not something you achieve but rather something you receive. It's a gift we receive when we surrender our efforts to control circumstances and outcomes.
So, in this Advent season, ask: Lord, what am I trying to control? What would it look like for you to surrender those outcomes to Jesus and experience the gift of his peace? What could that do for you? For those around you?
