Jesus Quotes: Freedom To Not Worry

Peace I Leave With You;

My Peace I Give to you,

And It Is Not The Kind of Peace The World Gives You.

 Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled.

Neither Let It Be Afraid.

John: 14:27 Jesus

      We live in an a time where peace seems more scarce than hen's teeth. Anxiety and depression seems to be overwhelming us.  Add to this the "wars and rumors of war" or violence that is spreading throughout the streets and cities of nearly every continent and or island, and lack of peace appears to be epidemic. Our times are not unlike the days when Jesus was born. Fear raged as Herod sought to destroy all the male children in the region in his attempts to kill Jesus. 

     Then we have the context of today's Jesus quote:  It's surrounded by a conversation he has with his disciples that could certainly be quite unsettling. Jesus talks to them about the Holy Spirit ... a topic they had not discussed much and that could be confusing. And he talks about his death, but  he also  discusses a future date awaiting all the disciples and every other human being. He reflects on the day appointed for all to die when we finish our Journey and how he has prepared for that day.

    Yet, even though he sets a rather challenging stage, he leaves them with an extremely important saying that could empower their lives through the most dark of times. In the midst of all that is going on, he gives them some life changing spiritual food that will sustain them through some difficult times. I am here to tell you that this promise has sustained me as well, even in my most tumultuous days.

     Let's unpack this powerful promise to you and me: First thing out of our luggage is  that Jesus promises peace --eirene--  It's the eirene he carries around in his being that he is granting you and me, if we will believe him and receive it.  You may even recognize a feminine name here. And eirene  is indeed a feminine greek word. Many modern translations translate this word as "peace." But I do believe something is lost in the translation when we limit this word like this. After all,  "peace" can be viewed from many perspectives.  A most literal translation for eirene  is "freedom from worry." Jesus is saying that I am leaving you power to be free from your worry.

     As we continue to unpack this, we see that the peace he is leaving us is not like the peace the world offers. The word "world" in the greek is the word "kosmos" or the created world, universe or things. Kosmos peace may indeed come as we sit by a creek, or river or lake with the sun shining, the skies blue and things all going well as we breath in deeply the good stuff that comes our way.  But Jesus is clear that his eirene is greater than a peace that only balance in creation can give.  It is above creation. It is beyond creation.  It transcends creation, but can be given us supernaturally in the midst of creation, when all does NOT appear well outwardly. 

    Another item coming out our proverbial carrying case is when Jesus tells us we have the power to do something with eirene. We have the ability, if we choose to do so, to "let not our hearts to be troubled or afraid." Sadly, many modern Christ-Followers don't get this. Eirene is actually is something we can either "let" happen or not: Take it from one who has struggled with fear and anxiety, we can indeed let eirene happen by cooperating with God's Holy Spirit.  We can go and "get into our closets" when fear or a troubled mind comes. And we can allow the blessed Comforter (Holy Spirit) to take us over as we cry out to God for His peace that is out of this world. We can do what many have done,  and we can find God's Serenity Prayer. We can  pray it sincerely and repeatedly until the troubling thoughts subside.  We can focus on Philippians 4:6-7 and practice what it guides us to do: Then we can experience God's peace that surpasses all understanding to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  We can read a little farther in Philippians 4 and focus on what the Lord teaches us about our thinking,  and we can practice nobel/praiseworthy" thinking - rather than stinking thinking. We can experience the God of peace taking us over. We really can become people who choose to not let our hearts be troubled neither let them be afraid.  

This Jesus quote works for me, and I believe it will work for you. 

SoJourner