3rd PersonSample

What gives you peace? In the Bible, Jesus claims that the peace He gives the world cannot give. For the disciples, following Jesus meant constantly navigating the unknown. We can learn from the disciples that we can’t rely on exterior factors to give us peace, but solely on the Holy Spirit. So, what if we are following Jesus, but we don't feel at peace? When the disciples followed Jesus, they did not always feel peace; they got into arguments, they felt confused, they expressed fear and uncertainty, frustration, and grief when Christ passed. However, when the disciples' perspective was shifted to believe that Jesus was the Son of God after He resurrected, they had a Hope to hold onto. We see from the disciples that perspective has a lot to do with peace. We get to shift our perspective on truth, believing the Holy Spirit is a gift to us, and peace is already ours through Christ Jesus. The Word emphasises two aspects of peace. Peace of mind and peace of heart. When we feel our minds spiraling in anxious thoughts and fear, where is our perspective? Is it in the Word and His promises or focused on the aspects of our life that seem out of control? When our minds are filled with chaos, we lose sight of the gift of peace. We forget that we can trust Him to work it all together. Lucky for us, Jesus says His peace is a gift, so when we feel anxious or fearful, we can call to Him and He will answer. Have you ever felt that your heart was troubled, like a pit inside your chest that just felt uneasy? Jesus invites us to take heart! When we are reminded that the Spirit is in us and peace is ours, we can ask Him for it. Peace lives in you because He lives in you. The Holy Spirit makes it possible that even in the most crazy of circumstances, we can still have peace. The scriptures make it clear that peace is not the absence of conflict, but it brings resolution. Because we have received this peace, it is our responsibility to give peace. Peace is something that is shared. So, if the situation around us seems to be out of control, we have a responsibility to cultivate and bring peace. The world can't have this peace because they trust in self, but when we begin to rely on the Holy Spirit and make Him a part of our everyday life, this fruit of peace is cultivated. We trust because we have hope in God's promises. We have an assurance that the world does not have. God keeps His word, and when He promised us peace, He will surely give it. Our hope is in the Lord and not in ourselves. With this perspective, we are filled with hope. We don't have peace from circumstances or situations, but we have it because that is who lives in us. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to fill our minds and hearts with peace by trusting Him with everything. No matter what life looks like, we can take heart because the peace the Holy Spirit gives is not something we have to conjure up, but we get to receive, and when we have received it, we get to share it.