A different kind of peace
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
September 24th Sermon, Day 2
The world offers its own version of peace—one that's fragile and fleeting. It depends on having the right circumstances: no conflict, plenty of comfort, and achieving our personal goals. When things go well, we feel peaceful. When they don't, that peace evaporates.
Jesus offers something entirely different. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you," He told His disciples. "I do not give to you as the world gives." His peace isn't circumstantial—it's relational. It's grounded not in what's happening around us but in who He is.
This distinction matters tremendously. If peace depends on perfect circumstances, we're in trouble because life rarely cooperates. But if peace comes from a relationship with the Prince of Peace Himself, it can sustain us through anything.
The peace Jesus offers doesn't deny reality or pretend everything is fine when it isn't. Instead, it provides an anchor for our souls when everything else is shifting. It reminds us that even when life feels out of control, we're held by the One who holds all things together.
Today, consider where you've been seeking peace. Have you been looking for it in comfortable circumstances or in Christ Himself?
Bible Verse
"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
Reflection Question
What's one way you've been seeking "the world's peace" rather than Christ's peace in your current situation?
Quote
The peace of the world, the peace that other things can offer to us. It's circumstantial. It depends on the absence of conflict, the presence of comfort, and sometimes the achievement of our personal goals.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for offering me a peace that's different from what the world gives. Help me to stop placing my hope in perfect circumstances and instead find my peace in You. When my heart feels troubled today, remind me that Your peace is always available to me. Amen.
