DEVOTION – DAY 449

John 16:33 “I Give You Peace” 

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus gave these comforting words to His disciples after He had informed them that a time was approaching when they would be scattered and He would no longer be with them. In this verse, there are contrasts between “in me” and “in this world”, and between “peace” and “trouble”. Jesus tells us that this world is filled with trouble. But when we have Him in our lives, we will experience an inner peace even though we may face troubles. Our inner peace is rooted in the knowledge that ultimately, Jesus Christ has overcome the world. He is the God of the Universe. Thus, we have an invitation to experience peace in the midst of troubles if we have Jesus in our lives as our Lord and Savior.

We know someone who like most old people have aches and pains. She is worried about her health. She is worried about her finances. She is worried about many things. Whenever we meet her, she would talk constantly about her worries and troubles. We prayed with her and told her she will find peace if only she was willing to open her heart to invite Jesus into her life. Since she had worshipped idols, she declined our offer. Sadly, she chooses to continue to remain in this world and to face her troubles alone. She continues not to have peace.

We contrast this with another person we know. She also does not have much savings. She also has aches and pains that come with age. But we rarely hear her complain or say she is worried. The difference is that she has Jesus in her life and she knows that there are many things she cannot control. So, she had learnt to surrender everything to Jesus and trust in Him. She experiences His peace daily and she continues to be active at home, in her family and in church. Like everyone else, she has troubles but she also has the Lord’s peace. She knows the Lord is faithful and He is with her always. He is the source of her inner peace. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for giving us your peace that transcends all understanding. Please help us to trust in you even as we face our troubles knowing that you are with us always. We pray this in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. What is your natural reaction when ever you face troubles of various kinds?
  2. How can you experience inner peace when you face troubles? Discuss.
  3. Why is Jesus the source of your peace? Discuss.
  4. Who do you know is currently facing troubles and in need of the peace that Jesus is offering? How can you help them to have this peace? Share and Discuss.