Do not let your hearts be troubled...

In the past month I have been hearing a lot about what is going on in the Middle East, in particular with Israel and Gaza. And even though I am not equipped to comment on the political status and the current going-ons over there, I feel as if I can and am in a place to say something.

I realized today that it is two weeks tomorrow until I leave to go back. I understand that people are concerned, the news doesn't portray a good picture of life in Israel right now, but I am not afraid. (I'm actually excited to go back :) )

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 14:27

Jesus told this to his disciples just before he was crucified. If any time was a stressful and uneasy time, watching your teacher and leader be arrested and sentenced to death has to at least be near the top of the list. Yet, despite what a normal reaction would be, Jesus tells them not to be troubled.

God's peace is different than the peace the world looks for and desires. I get the feeling that if someone was to describe the desired 'peace' in the middle east it would include not firing rockets at each other, no racial/religious/ethnic divides, and maybe even living in way that beneficial to all nations in that area.

 If that was all that there was to 'peace' we would be left unsatisfied and desiring something more. God's peace is more than that. I have always heard that שלומ (shalom) is a wholeness, complete, healing, and everything the way that is suppose to.  We can know the way that everything is suppose to be by looking back to the Garden of Eden. God looked at all that He had made and said that it was very good. If it pleased God's heart, then that is the way that things are suppose to be.

I have peace because I have a hope of what is to come. I do not need to be afraid because I know that God is going to make all things new. Revelations uses the imagery of a river with trees, almost like a garden but with a city too, and I don't think that is just coincidental that the Bible begins and ends in a garden where everything is the way that it is suppose be, where שלומ will reign.  And deep within there is a sense excitement and longing to experience that garden!

Paul mentions in his letter to the Philippians that "to live is Christ and to die is gain", and although I do not see any reason to fear for my life, there is incredible peace having the hope of the life to come. That hope does not come without a certain sense of urgency and purpose as well, if we know and have such a hope we ought to share that with the people around us, wherever that may be. 

Another aspect of God that brings me incredible peace is His sovereignty. He is powerful and knows what is truly best. If he did not want me in a certain place, there would be no way for me to get there, if he wanted me in a certain place, as long as I am following Him, I will get there. 

It is easy to 'trust' God where we are comfortable, but I wonder if that is really trust, or are we just saying that it is because we fear to actually step and follow him further. God will never lead us to somewhere he is not.