Peace, I Leave With You

By MARY GEISEN

It doesn’t happen this way often. A whispered thought that seems to wake me up. Several reminders of the same words throughout the day. The familiar tug that somehow these words were meant for me. On this day, the words grabbed me and I was determined to find out why.

“Peace” was my first thought as I woke up. This expanded into “Peace, I leave with you” as I scrolled through my Bible app. Right in front of me, in plain letters, were the same words as the verse of the day.

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 (John 14:27 NIV)

I began to mentally reflect on all that was currently going on in my life. Did I need peace? Was there a deep-seated level of anxiety that I wasn’t aware of? Why did the word “peace” continue to break through my thoughts?

I still don’t have the answers to all of my questions. What I do know is that God desires for you and me to feel His perfect peace. I have several family members and close friends who are experiencing high anxiety in their lives due to job situations, sick family members and friends, and trying to provide for their families. Even if the words from John 14 are not specifically for me, they are words that I can pray over those who are undergoing challenges that seem beyond what they can handle.