Jesus said, “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.”
These are His words from John 14:27 (NKJV).

We are living in unprecedented times with the Coronavirus (COVID-19).  Understandably, people are very concerned.  Some have died.  Some are dying.  Some are in ICU awaiting results from testing.  If you allow yourself to do so (I do not recommend this), you will be consumed by negative news 24/7.  I try to tune in 15 minutes a day to catch updates, then I return to watching movies, praying, taking a walk, washing clothes, whatever.  On good days, my wife and I go on a date and drive to Dunkin Donuts and grab a cup of coffee through the window, then, go to the post office and grab mail from the PO Box.  Now, that’s romance!  Most days, I drive around for 20 or 30 minutes just to escape my home which now feels like a shoe box.  On these drives I imagine a society that was, and will be again, as I survey darkened stores, empty streets, and the occasional person doing the same thing I’m doing by foot.

Most are following decisions made my our President and state Governors as schools are physically closed and teaching has reached the parent’s living room.  In my home, we’re doing our best to abide by the social-distancing suggestions.  Everyone I know is longing for the day when life returns to normal.  Some are not obeying the directives from their governing authorities which completely goes against Scripture (Romans 13:1), and actually God Himself, as He is the One who places people in positions of authority.  Some think this is a genuine “bug”.  Others believe it has been fabricated by man; perhaps a bio weapon.  Regardless, COVID-19 is here and we have to deal with it.  The main question is how?

Jesus gives one solution to this question in John 14:27.  Let me break it down a little.

PEACE

1) Each of us has a financial comfort zone that we are peaceful in until it is disrupted by the loss of a job, an illness, and/or a reduction in hours.  And then, our peace is gone.
2) Our marriages are peaceful until an argument creates an environment of unrest.  And then, our peace is gone.
3) When our car is running great we don’t even give thanks.  But, when it breaks down we are disgruntled, our day has to be adjusted, and money leaves our savings account for the “bucket of bolts”.  And then, our peace is gone.

Man-created peace is just that; peace made by man.  It doesn’t last.  But, the peace that Jesus gives lasts as long as we cling to it.
Each person reading this knows from experience that life situations can be challenging.  How we deal with them determines our level of joy.
James 1:2 reads (NASB), “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.”
Jesus said in John 16:33 (NKJV), “In the world you have tribulation.”
Christians, you have, you are, and you will face times of trouble.
However, be of good cheer, my friend.  The peace that Jesus gives; the peace directly from the Son of God to you, will allow you to be joyous in the midst of trials, no matter how severe.

YOUR HEART

Jesus instructs us in this verse to “let not your heart be troubled.”
He also urges us “to let not our hearts be afraid.”
There is a difference between being troubled and being afraid.
A troubled mind is never focused solely on the Kingdom of God as it is torn by the world’s trial and how it affects their life.
A heart that is afraid resides in the body of the person that may as well be paralyzed.  Fear of a situation consumes this individual.
Jesus has great wisdom in sharing these two potential dangers.
But, in the end, it goes back to the peace that He Himself desires for you to possess.
A person that has the peace of Christ will not have a troubled heart; they will not have a heart that is afraid.
It is literally impossible.

Today, I pray that you will allow Jesus to give you His peace.
Rejoice in your trials and rest in His peace.

Copyright 2020 Michael Callahan Ministries, LLC