#7

In these days of turmoil and uncertainty, when people are dying and economies are crumbling, when our jobs and our education are not guaranteed, how can Jesus help? What can He possibly do?

Well, I can tell you, my friends, that Jesus can and does help. And I can sum up the type of help Jesus gives in one word.

Peace.

Jesus gives peace in a way that the world cannot understand or explain. How is it possible to be at peace when all these things are going on around us and life will never be the same?

Jesus.

How can we know that we will have work at the end of lock-down, and our children will not lack education?

Jesus.

All our uncertainty, all our concerns, every single thing we may be losing sleep over can all be sorted out by Jesus.

He is our peace. Imagine all your concerns are bundled into an enormous box and tied with a piece of string. Then see yourself handing this ungainly, ugly box to Him. Watch as He stretches out His hands – the hands with the scars of nails in the palms – and takes the box from us. Then look up into His face as He gazes at us with love in His eyes. And see Him as He swings around with all our worries and the burdens we carry and He puts them right behind Him so they are hidden from our sight.

Jesus.

And, if we so choose, we can leave them there with Him, and let Him handle them.

Yet so often we decide we should, perhaps just make sure they are being handled and we pick them up, even a portion of them, and walk away with them, weighed down by their weight. Perhaps we don’t trust Him enough. Perhaps we think the only one who can sort out our problems is ourselves. Maybe we think we know that we know the best way.

If this is so, then why do we worry and stress? Why do we toss and turn and lose sleep? Why do we get angry with the people with whom we are locked down?

Give these things to Jesus. Hear Him whisper to you, “I will sort them out, Beloved. Just leave them all with Me.” Can you hear Him? Can you trust Him?

Jesus promises us His peace. All we have to do is accept it.

Will you?

Some Scriptures to ponder:

Mark 4:39: (Jesus) got up and rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Luke 7:50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Luke 24:36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus Himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

John 14:27 “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 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

1 Corinthians 1:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.