“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”
John 14:27

In the New Testament, the most common Greek word for “peace” is eirēnē, and it refers to rest and tranquility. This peace can come only from the God of peace. Peace comes from God through the Lord Jesus. In fact, He told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

His peace ought to calm our hearts as we place our trust and confidence in Him. Peace is not the absence of trouble or difficulty; it is the calm within, knowing that our God is greater than our difficulties and that He is in complete control.

The Lord Jesus sought to comfort His disciples in the upper room. He had told them that one of them would betray Him, another would deny Him, and that all would scatter. He also told them that He was going to the cross and would no longer be with them physically. Their hearts were filled with turmoil and were deeply troubled.

Yet the Lord gathered them together to teach them and gave them—in seed form—all that they would need in His absence. He demonstrated true service in John 13. He spoke of the Father’s house in John 14 and promised the coming of “another Comforter.” He taught them in chapter 15 that the secret to bearing fruit was abiding in Him, and that they would remain in the world as His witnesses. He encouraged them with the privilege of prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. After laying all of this before them, He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

You and I, like the disciples, will face difficulties, and our hearts will be troubled at times. After all, this world is not a playground; it is a battleground for the Christian. But we must not allow what is happening around us to rob us of our peace or our joy. The Lord Jesus has overcome the world. He is the great Overcomer and does not want fear to grip and control our hearts.

He desires that we take courage in Him and live as overcomers ourselves. He has given us His peace and still says to each of us today, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Anchor For Today:
True peace is not found in the absence of trouble, but in the presence of Christ. Trust Him, abide in Him, and let His peace guard your heart and mind today.