The Gift the World Cannot Give

READ: PSALM 4:8; JOHN 14:25-29; 16:33

As a younger teenager, I was so interested in reading fiction. It provided entertainment, romance, adventure, comedy, and interesting plots. Not to mention, it also provided an escape from the real world, thrusting me into an author’s made-up fantasy. During stressful or anxious times in my life, I strolled through the young adult shelves at my local library seeking reprieve. The desire to shrink out of reality became a struggle, as I felt more desperate after each book. At the time, I felt like the only thing that could give me peace was books, or something to constantly read.

Then one day, I lost my library card. I spent months without reading. Fortunately, that gave me time to dive into my dust-collecting Bible. Diving into the Gospels (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), I did not leave my room for the next hour. I was stuck on a specific chapter—John 14. In verse 27, I was stunned to read what Jesus told His disciples. Here, He gives them a specific gift. Peace! He specifically stated that He would give them “peace of mind and heart.” That changed my life. Furthermore, Jesus said that His peace wasn’t like the peace that created things could give. As followers of Christ, we have access to the eternal peace that transcends what any other person or thing can give!

Today, I still love reading. And I’m still a teenager who loves romance, adventure, comedy, and interesting plots. But my heart was what changed. Now, I look for my peace in the One who I can always rely on. • Evelyn Cardriche

• One of Jesus’s names is “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Because Jesus died and rose again to forgive us and save us from sin and death, everyone who trusts in Him can have “peace with God” (Romans 5:1). That means our sin no longer makes us enemies of God—instead, we get to “rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God” (verse 11). And it’s because of this relationship that we can bring God all of our worries and, as Philippians 4:7 says, “experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.” When Jesus returns to restore creation, all His people will feel perfectly at peace all the time. And until that day, He invites us to draw near to Him whenever we feel unpeaceful, resting in His great love for us and bringing Him all of our concerns, desires, and needs. Through the Holy Spirit, He will help us experience His peace more and more throughout our lives. Can you remember a time in your life when you experienced God’s peace? What was that like?

“I [Jesus] 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 (NLT)