Day 23: Listening for Peace
“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 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 14:25-27
Devotional:
On Christmas Eve in 2009, the sound system at the church I was serving crashed right before the service. As panic started to rise, our elderly piano player simply sat down and began playing "Silent Night." The peaceful melody cut through the chaos, and something shifted in the room. Sometimes peace doesn't come from having everything perfect - it comes from hearing the right voice in the midst of the imperfect.
This brings to mind a counseling session I had with a couple facing a difficult decision about their future. They had pros and cons lists, advice from friends, and countless sleepless nights behind them. "But how do we know what's right?" they asked. I shared something I'd learned the hard way: God's voice often comes with peace, even when the path He's showing doesn't make logical sense. Two weeks later, they made a decision that looked crazy on paper but came with an undeniable sense of peace.
Jesus' promise of peace in today's passage is remarkable because of its timing. He's about to face the cross, and His disciples' world is about to be turned upside down. Yet here He is, promising peace. Not just any peace, but His peace - "not as the world gives." The world's peace usually depends on circumstances being right. Jesus' peace persists despite circumstances.
What's so beautiful is how this peace is connected to the Holy Spirit's role as teacher and reminder. The Spirit doesn't just drop peace on us like a warm blanket; He teaches us to recognize Jesus' voice and reminds us of His words. It's an active peace that comes through ongoing relationship and conversation with God.
Notice Jesus says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled." This suggests that peace isn't just something that happens to us - we have a role in receiving and maintaining it. Like tuning a radio to the right frequency, we can learn to tune our hearts to the Spirit's peaceful presence, even when there's static all around us.
Reflection Questions:
When was the last time you experienced God's peace that didn't make logical sense?
What "static" in your life might be making it hard to hear the Spirit's peaceful voice?
Prayer Prompt: Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you how to recognize and receive Jesus' peace, especially in situations where the world's solutions aren't bringing real peace.