A contest was announced. Artists were invited to create a picture depicting peace. Many pictures were submitted. The picture that “˜won”™ the prize had the following scene painted on the canvas, a turbulent waterfall leaping over a rocky ledge to fall into a far away pool. In the middle of this waterfall was a tree clinging to a crevice in one of the many rocks. And on one of the limbs was a nest with a bird and its young.

Life, many times, has turbulent waters leaping over the rocky ledges in our lives. How we long for peace”¦and as a follower of Christ, we can experience His peace. Why? We too can have His peace because Jesus Christ has promised us His peace. He promised it to His disciples as they sat around the Passover Meal one evening in Jerusalem. The disciples didn”™t know it, but the turbulent waters were about to leap over a very rocky ledge in their lives that very night.

(NASB) John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

(Amplified) John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]”

How is one way the Lord Jesus can give you His peace in the reality of your life today? God does not promise to change your circumstances”¦He does promise His peace in your circumstances. Notice the words “˜Stop”™ and “˜do not permit”™”¦you and I need to do that, to purposely change the direction in our thinking when we are assailed with the negatives and the impossibilities in our lives.

(NASB) John 14:1 “DO NOT let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”

Believe and Trust in the living God”¦

Do you?