The safe harbor

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: Not as the world gives, give I unto you, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" John 14:27

Turmoil, fear, trouble and angst are everywhere. So when Jesus promises us peace, who wouldn't jump at the chance? But as the song goes, "I never promised you a rose garden, along with the sunshine, there's got to be a little rain sometime". Jesus DID promise that "in this world you WILL have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Yet as I observe many prayer requests from Christians, nearly all of them are asking for relief from a bad situation, healing of their bodies, or some financial blessing. Don't get me wrong. God can, and does, answer some of those prayers. This peace the world can understand. Don't we all want to have our suffering alleviated? 

There is another place, however, and there alone is the peace of Christ found. Daniel's friends were asked to bow down to the king's god. They said plainly that their God could deliver them out of the kings hand, BUT even if He does not, they still would not be worshipping the king's god. Why? They knew the secret. The peace of God is found in knowing Him. The storms may blow, and the tempest may arise, and it may seem like God has forgotten us. Faith, however, shows us that this is not the case. God does NOT promise deliverance from the storm, but rather that He will be WITH us through it. 

When Jesus taught us to pray, He told us to ask what God is doing, and agree with it. "Come thy Kingdom, be done thy will, on earth, as it is in Heaven". We do not NATURALLY know just what God's will is, so "give us this day our daily bread", which is primarily the revelation by which we will live. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every WORD of God" Luke 4:4. Sometimes what He is doing will seem a mystery to us, but our understanding is not required. When we have entered His rest, we know that whether or not our storm is calmed, our Faith will remain. 

"Built on the Rock, the Church must stand, even when steeples are falling, Christ builds His church in every land, bells still are chiming and calling. Calling the young and old to rest, calling the souls of those distressed, longing for life everlasting". 

"Not in a temple made with hands, God the Almighty is dwelling. High in the Heavens his temple stands, all earthly temples excelling. Yet He who in dwells in Heaven above, chooses to live with us in love, making our body His temple."

"We are God's house of living stones, built for His own habitation. He fills our hearts, His humble throne, granting us life and salvation. Yet to this place, and earthly frame, we come with THANKS to praise His Name, God gives his people the blessing"

"Through all the passing years, O Lord, grant that when Church bells are ringing, many may come to hear God's Word, where He this promise is bringing. 'I know my own, and they know me, you, not the world, My face shall see, My peace I leave with you Amen.'"