Devotion - Friday April 3 - Perfect Peace Found Only in Him

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.  (John 14:27 ESV)

The Hebrew expression peace (shalom) had a much richer connotation than our English counterpart peace. Shalom conveys not simply the absence of conflict and turmoil, but also the idea of positive blessing -- a blessing that comes from a right relationship with God. 

We often seek and find our peace in our circumstances. The problem is that our circumstances constantly change. If the basis of our peace changes, our peace will follow. If we seek our shalom in what the world has to offer, we will never find it – but our Lord says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.” He is the never-changing, everlasting rock. Eternal and immutable and faithful by nature. We were created to find in Him our all in all. It is the distortion of sin that draws us to find our shalom in worldly things. 

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.  (Isaiah 26:3–4 ESV)

What is your definition of peace?

Where, or in what, are you searching for peace? 

Where does your search for peace differ from the only true source of peace described in God’s Word?