Peace In Christ Alone

When I think of peace a mental image comes to mind of my twins when they were itty bitty. There was a time when they were so little that I could hold one in each arm and rock them to sleep. I remember how peaceful and content they looked falling asleep in my arms. Even though that seemed like the most peaceful moment encapsulated in time, Jesus speaks of a different kind of peace. A better kind.

Before Jesus physically left the earth, He shared this with His disciples: “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 (Jn. 14:27). With everything going on in the world right now, peace is something our hearts are desperately craving. There seems to be an underlying current of chaos and unrest creeping out of every corner. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We don’t have to let the chaos from the world steer our heart and affections.

In Matthew 11 Jesus provides clear instruction to His disciples on where they can find rest for their weary soul. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” The answer is to go to Jesus. That seems pretty simple, right? But how many times do we not heed this simple instruction. How many times do we try to find rest through other means? We try to find it through our job. We try to find it through our family. We try to find it through our relationships. We try to find it through material possessions. But that is not where Jesus tells us to look.

We will not find peace or rest on this earth apart from Jesus Christ. If you are journeying through the adoption process right now feeling restless, I encourage you to examine your heart before the Lord. Ask Him to help you find your peace in Him and not your circumstances. If your peace is determined by your situation you will be like a ship in a storm, moved to and fro by the waves. But when your peace is secure in Christ you can not be moved.