Peace I Leave With You

It has been a tough week in the city of Pittsburgh. Over the last week many hearts are hurting following the shooting of Antwon Rose, a 17 year-old killed by police. In hearing the news and having it be so close to home, it has just been so tough to wrap my head around this tragedy. My heart hurts for his family, friends, and this city.  

In the midst of examining this tragedy, God has reminded me that he is sovereign. In the midst of all the chaos, God can provide us, something that this world can not, peace, a peace that is far beyond human understanding. As I was studying the peace God gives, I found that it translates to the Hebrew, Shalom which is defined as completeness and soundness.

You see God reminds us that in the midst of chaos, he is able to provide a soundness and stillness to our hearts and minds. God allows us to find an ultimate rest in him. It does not mean that it will be easy, it does not mean that we will not hurt, but it means that we are not alone, that we can find a stillness no matter what is going on around us. 

John 14:27 says: ​
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"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" John 14:27 (KJV)

Peace does not mean that we do not have problems but in the midst of our problems we can turn to a savior who is sovereign and who will see us through. In that we can find our rest and stillness.

So as you go through this week I encourage you to tap into that peace. No matter what your current chaos is, we can find the same rest in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray to the Lord for that peace, and in his peace let us find rest. Rest my brothers and sisters, God is with you!

Let us pray for the family of Antwon this week, and let us encourage someone else that they are not alone! ​
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