Dear Family and Friends,

As we continue reading Jesus’ Farewell Discourse, we find Jesus preparing His disciples for the final days of that fateful week. The disciples had little idea that their three exciting years with Jesus would soon come to a terrifying end.

But Jesus knew.

He also knew they would soon experience a rollercoaster of emotions. Fear. Horror. Sadness. Disappointment. Jesus knew that fear would overcome them a second time. Jesus knew that all their hopes and dreams for the future would be gone in just a matter of hours.

If we had a crystal ball and could see into our future, many (or should I say all) of us would probably spend our remaining time worried and focused on ourselves and our fate. 

But not our Jesus. Despite knowing what was to come, Jesus remained focused on preparing and caring for His disciples. That evening, as he prepared to leave for the garden, Jesus made this promise to His disciples:

“I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous! “Remember what I’ve told you, that I must go away, but I promise to come back to you. So if you truly love me, you will be glad for me, since I’m returning to my Father, who is greater than I. So when all of these things happen, you will still trust and cling to me.” –  John 14:27-29 TPT

In this short passage, Jesus starts by giving them a gift, His perfect peace. Philippians 4:7 describes this peace as surpassing all understanding; a peace able to guard hearts and minds.

This same gift of peace, the perfect peace, is our’s as well.

Jesus then instructs His disciples to be courageous, to not succumb to fear, to not let their hearts, their emotions, be troubled by what would soon come. His instruction to be courageous, to not yield to fear or be troubled in our hearts, is meant for us as well.

Then Jesus tells them to be glad! To know that God had a plan. Jesus tells us to be glad too. To know that God has a plan to overcome the unrelenting turmoil we see in our world today.

Jesus ends by telling them to trust in Him, to remain faithful, because one day they will see the grand unveiling of God’s plans.

Let’s remain in faith as well, because one day, we too will see that glorious day when the rest of God’s plans are unveiled. 

Although I don’t feel very old, there is always something or someone who reminds me that I really am older than I feel. For example just today, before getting my COVID shot, the pharmacist asked if I had a Medicare card. She was really sweet, didn’t mean any harm, and was just doing her job. But for a moment there, I was startled by my age.

I share this because in all my years – which likely surpasses yours – I have never ever lived through a year like the one we just lived through. 

So let me ask, has the fatally contagious virus, unrelenting bad news, constantly changing rules, lockdowns, travel restrictions, closure of your favorite shops and restaurants, and doing church by yourself, left you feeling unsettled? Are you worried about your job, your finances, your future?

Are you the kind of person who says: Me? Brave? Are you kidding? Who can be brave in a time like this?

Or are you telling yourself: I’m going to muscle my way through. When I get up every morning, I will put on my brave face and remind myself that everything will be just fine.  Don’t worry – be happy.

But despite all your efforts, despite all your will power, despite wanting to believe all will work out for the best, do you find this barrage of stress getting you down? Do you feel yourself slipping towards the end of your rope?

If this is you, remember that Jesus makes the same promise to you today that He made to His disciples. Please go back and read today’s passage, inserting your name into the text.

Then go ahead and accept Jesus’ perfect peace. It will be unlike any peace you’ve felt before. His peace will guard your heart and mind from the troubles of your world. Don’t yield to fear or allow your heart to be troubled.

Instead, be courageous. If Jesus is for us, who can be against us?

Be glad and joyful. God’s plans are perfect, and know that He has a perfect plan for the turmoil and chaos we see today.

Finally, accept Jesus as your source of truth. Jesus is the only One we can truly trust. Place your faith and trust solely in Jesus.

Praise Jesus! We are indeed blessed. 

In love always,