“I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
John 14:27 NLTWhen Jesus offered the gift of peace, the world around Him was broken and twisted: life meant little and entertainment often involved torture and barbarism. Fear was in reality the ruler of society’s emotions and actions.
I was reminded yesterday of how important this gift of His is in day to day life.
After offering a closing prayer at a National Crime Victims’ Rights Week gathering, one of the survivors came over to me with tears welling up. She asked to speak with me and offered a heartfelt thanks for the prayers offered. She explained that although it had been years since the murder of her loved one, attending this event was causing her tremendous anxiety.
The opening prayer of Psalm 130 offered her a peace beyond understanding as we asked God for His healing Presence. As we hugged and said goodbye, her tears were replaced by a sense of calm, a peace gifted by God’s Spirit.
Jesus offered us a special type of peace at a time that was as tense as the world is today. It’s up to us to keep offering and accepting that peace to everyone: as often as possible.
Praying we feel that special peace…..