This topic hits close to home for all of us.  We all encounter turmoil on a regular basis.  But for clarity, and to better serve an edifying conversation, it needs to be said that there is no such thing as dying to turmoil.  We can however sever ourselves from the anxiety and pain that turmoil stirs up. . 

 

Here is a brief introduction...

When Jesus says the famous words "Peace I leave with you" to His disciples, it is the night before His death.  Turmoil is literally moments away.  Trouble is on the horizon, yet Jesus decides to speak of peace.  Why?  Because He wants His disciples (and us) to know that the trouble and turmoil will be short-lived.  In three short days, the outcome of the cross and grave will be resurrections.  On the other side of pain is peace that will last forever.  This is true even now.  As St. Pul tells us, "The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Rom. 8:18).  In the end, the glorious peace of God will reign supreme. 

 

Later in the same setting (the Upper Room), Jesus says: "These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33).  Jesus says you/we will have tribulation.  He Himself was moments away from extreme suffering.  But in these vanishing moments, the calm before the storm, Jesus’ heart pours out for His disciples.  He wants them to experience His peace, a peace that is “not as the world gives.”  Why?  Because it isn’t affected by the worst the world has to offer. 

 

Jesus felt the pain of personal betrayal.  The crown of thorns thrust upon His head caused searing pain.  He was nailed to a cross and hung suffering for hours.  And then He died.  In our love for Him, we cannot run past or gloss over the horrific human suffering He endured on our accounts; we honor His sacrifice when it grips our hearts.  But there is an even greater truth to for us to lay hold of. 

 

Isaiah 53:4-5 reads:

“…it was our sicknesses that He Himself bore, and our pains that He carried; yet we ourselves assumed that He had been afflicted, struck down by God, and humiliated. But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; the punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him,”

…and Hebrews 4:14-16 states:

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.

 

The victory Christ won through living, suffering, death, and resurrection provides for us a pathway through turmoil.  Not out of, but through.  We may feel the wind of the storm, we may even be grieved by various trials (Rom. 5:3-5; Jas. 1:2-4), but because of Christ, these need no longer define our state of being.  Jesus’ peace is a perfect peace; available to all, all the time.  Over and above the influence of the “prince of the power of the air” (the enemy of our souls, Eph. 2:2), The Prince of Peace, Jesus, rules in a sovereign, conquering peace.  And, through faith, we are subjects of His domain… “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:13).”

 

Prayer:
Thank  you Jesus for your sacrifice.  Grant me your peace.  On good days, on bad days, and every day in-between, may I look to you.  Help me to let go of my human grip on this world—the need to rise and fall on the storm tossed sea of life.  Fill me with your Spirit.  Teach me the unforced rhythms of grace.  I surrender all.  Amen.