"I leave you peace; my peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world does . . .”
(John 14:27a New Century Version).
My sister is one of the hundreds of thousands Californians who had to leave their home due to out-of-control wildfires. News reports have suggested that these fires are the worst that the area has ever experienced. A state of emergency has been declared to provide help in order to protect people and their property.
At the height of a crisis everyone does what needs to be done. Once the wind dies down, the fires are put out, and the news reporters go home, individuals will have to face the reality of tragedy and loss. There are so many questions when crisis of great magnitude occurs. At the end of the day, humanity asks the same question, “Why?”
I am not sure humanity will ever have all the answers, especially when it comes to tragedy. Of course, there are individuals who attempt to answer the “why” of tragedy by blaming God. YIKES! Why do we blame God when we are unable to understand something?
Christ Jesus gave an answer that goes beyond the “whys” . . . peace . . . His peace. Think about it, Christ Jesus did not say that life would be free of troubles and tragedy; however, He promised to leave His peace. That said, it is a choice to receive His peace . . . a peace that is different from the peace of the world . . . from our circumstances.
Why?
I don’t know.
What should we do?
Receive the peace of Christ. . . Shalom. . . the peace of knowing His presence . . . love . . . mercy . . . understanding.
Allow the peace of Christ to infiltrate every thought, attitude, word, and action today.
Meditate on the peace of Christ.
Saturate yourself in the peace of Christ.
May the peace of Christ be with you today.
Shalom.
Learning with you to go beyond the “why” and receive the peace of Christ,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)
