Peace as a witness
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
September 24th Sermon, Day 5
In a world characterized by anxiety, conflict, and uncertainty, peace stands out. When others see us responding to stress with calm, to offense with forgiveness, and to uncertainty with trust in God, they notice something different.
This is why Jesus told us, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." He didn't promise to remove all our troubles—He promised to give us His peace in the midst of them. And when we experience that peace, it becomes a powerful testimony.
Think about Paul and Silas singing in prison. Their peaceful response to suffering made such an impression that it ultimately led to their jailer's conversion. Their peace wasn't just for their own benefit—it was a witness to God's power and presence.
The same is true for us. When we respond to life's challenges with supernatural peace rather than natural anxiety, people notice. It creates opportunities to share about the source of our peace—Jesus Christ.
As we conclude this week's devotional, remember that peace isn't the absence of chaos; it's the presence of Christ. And as you experience His peace in your own life, you become a living testimony to a watching world that there's a different way to navigate life's storms.
Bible Verse
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33
Reflection Question
How might your peace in difficult circumstances become a witness to someone in your life who doesn't yet know Jesus?
Quote
When your family members and co-workers and your neighbors see you respond to stress with calm, to being offended, with forgiveness and to uncertainty, having the response of trust in God, man, that stands out as being different in a really, really good way.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for overcoming the world and offering me Your peace even in the midst of trouble. Help me to live in such a way that others see Your peace at work in my life. Use my calm in chaos, my trust in uncertainty, and my joy in difficulty to draw others to You. May my life be a testimony to Your faithfulness. Amen.
