“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
The night Jesus shared a last meal with his disciples was an evening full of emotion. Aware that these were some of His final moments, Jesus imparted truths he wanted his friends to remember once he was gone.
Laced within Jesus’s final words of comfort and love, he conveyed his parting gift of peace. Jesus was leaving the disciples with His peace – not just fleeting tranquility for a moment but enduring peace for a lifetime. And because of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence in our lives today, we have access to this same peace of Christ. Philippians 4:6-7 helps us understand how to embody this gift of peace. It says that when something anxiety-inducing invades our hearts and minds, we can give it to God in prayer, and then God’s peace, which surpasses all understanding, will take charge of our hearts.
This can be easier said than done, though. It may take intentionally turning to God again and again before we can start to abide in his peace.
As we face the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s easy to let our peace slip away. Whether it’s unmet expectations, difficult loved ones, or simply the pressure of more to do in less time, stress can become the norm for our holiday season. Yet, Jesus longs for us to exchange our stress for his peace.
As you go through your holiday season, when you start feeling stressed, take a deep breath and ask Jesus to help you. He left his peace for us. We can trust him and lay our anxieties down to pick up his peace despite our circumstances.
Let’s Pray and ask God for his peace right now:
Lord Jesus, thank you that you left us with your peace. You knew the disciples would face a multitude of struggles and discouragements, and so, as some of your last words, you made sure they would know they had access to your peace. And you also knew those words would make their way into our lives today. You left your peace long ago – but it transcends time and can be ours right now. So, Lord, we ask that you would help us know more of your peace.
If something is causing us anxiety right now, would you help us discern how to move forward? If we need to change something, give us the wisdom to know what to change. If we need to trust you more in this situation, help us do that. If we need additional help to navigate the anxiety, guide us to the proper support. Lord, we believe you when you say you left us your peace. So, help us know your peace right now.
Lord, As we move through this holiday season, we ask that you give us your enduring peace. Help us to rest in you and trust you. Help us to experience and celebrate this season with hearts full of peace.
We ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.
Related Resource: Did you know that the author of this devotional is also a podcast host? Listen to Jodie's FREE podcast, So Much More, where she teaches on Lectio Divina and Imaginative Prayer, and gives you space to practice them. Listen to her popular episode on finding hope when pain overwhelms you by clicking the play button below. Then head over to LifeAudio.com to hear her whole catalog of episodes!
Jodie Niznik is a seminary-trained lover of God’s Word who has served in vocational ministry for over twelve years. She helps people create space for God through her Scripture meditation podcast and equips them to take another step with Jesus through her Real People, Real Faith Bible studies, and teaching. You can connect with her at jodieniznik.com or on Instagram.
Related Resource: 5 Things Parents Need to Tell Their Kids About War Right Now
When war dominates the headlines, parents are left asking an important question: How do we talk to our kids about it? In this episode of March or Die, Jeremy Stalnecker shares practical and biblical principles for guiding young people through confusing and frightening global events.
Drawing from his experience as a Marine who lived through the wars following 9/11, Jeremy explains why moments of global conflict can become powerful opportunities for parents to teach their children about courage, faith, and moral clarity. Rather than avoiding difficult conversations, parents can use them to help their kids understand fear, the reality of evil in the world, and the responsibility we have to stand for what is right.
This conversation explores how parents can alleviate fear, explain why conflict exists, and demonstrate a faith-filled response when the world seems chaotic. Jeremy also discusses the importance of teaching children the difference between necessary and unnecessary violence, why standing against evil matters, and how faith in God provides stability even in uncertain times. If this episode of March or Die helped your spiritual perspective, be sure to follow the show on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Was this resource helpful? Add Christianity.com as a trusted source for Biblical content.
_639082225688253812.webp)