PEACE BE WITH YOU
Written By: Leslie Koch

When I was little I used to love to feed the ducks. There was a pond in our neighborhood where we would go and give the ducks little bits of white wonder bread deliciousness every week. Ducks were fascinating to me because they were QUICK but they would also glide across the pond so effortlessly.

But the thing was - they were actually putting in a TON of effort.
What looked easy and calm on the surface was pure chaos underneath.

I think life can feel a lot like this.
On the surface we look like everything is cool, calm and collected. But underneath it all - is chaos. We are tirelessly working to keep it all together all on our own.

I have to imagine that this is how the disciples felt at times after Jesus’ death. To see their friend, teacher and leader suffer such a brutal death had to have felt terrifying and confusing. A few days after his death, the disciples were scared for their lives and so they hid. They gathered together and locked themselves in a room, afraid of what may happen to them.They were probably trying to stay calm, but underneath the surface their minds must have been racing:

What do we do now?

What happens next?

How could this story possibly end?

They were all on their own now - they had to figure something out. But then, in one moment - everything changed.

John 20:19 — On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said “Peace be with you!”

Jesus could have said many things in that moment with them, but he meets them with these words — peace be with you. He assures them that there is nothing to fear. They can rest. They aren’t alone, all is well and he is WITH them. The same is true for us. We know the ending of the story. Jesus has conquered death and has now sent his advocate, the holy spirit to be with us and help us through every part of life.

The pressure is off to keep everything together or to figure out life on your own. God is with you. He wants to fill your life with peace.


REFLECTION + NEXT STEPS

  1. Spend time today praying…“here I am…disrupt me God and fill me awe and wonder.”

  2. Scriptures: John 20:19-23, John 14:25-27, John 16:33

  3. Reflect on where you need peace in your life and prayerful invite the Holy Spirit to come into those things and places.