Peaceful Melody
My wife and I enjoy sitting on our patio most evenings, as a way to unwind and quiet our souls before bedtime. Since suffering a stroke almost ten months ago, my brain is still learning how to change gears, so sitting peacefully outside as the sun sets is both helpful and healing.
On many occasions, especially after it has rained, the frogs in the pond behind our house sing in unison, a strangely peaceful melody. Much like a choir on a stage, the male frogs arrange themselves near the water’s edge to sing in unison, hoping to attract a female frog. Once a female arrives on the scene, she picks the male most suitable to her. Sounds much like a popular reality television show in which eligible bachelors “look for love.”
Being peaceful. That is elusive for most of us. Not only is there never-ceasing turmoil in the world around us, but turmoil also regularly bubbles deep within our souls. This inner turmoil is what most frequently keeps us, at least for me, from finding the peace and true rest we (I) so greatly need. While sitting quietly in the evenings does bring me a sense of peace and rest, that peace and rest is only temporary. Tomorrow is a new day, filled with new (and sometimes yesterday’s) things that rob me of a peaceful and quieted soul. The only lasting peace comes from and though intimacy with Jesus.
On the night before He was crucified, Jesus delivers what is known as the Farewell Address (John Chapters 14-17) to the remaining eleven disciples. Early in that address (14:1-11), Jesus tells the eleven that he will going away to the Father, which I am sure created quite a bit of inner turmoil within each of them.
Immediately after dropping that bombshell, Jesus then tells his guys that he will be sending the Holy Spirit to guide them (14:15-26). But Jesus goes even further in trying to calm their inner turmoil, their inner unrest. Here is what we find in v.27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Those comforting words are bookends to the is entire section, as Jesus began his address in a similar fashion – “Let your hearts not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (14:1).
This peace Jesus speaks of is a mystery, it surpasses anything we can humanly understand (Philippians 4:7). This peace that Jesus speaks of is not being exempt from internal (or external) troubles. In fact, Jesus himself had been troubled by his pending crucifixion (John 12:27). Instead, what I believe Jesus is offering is a different kind of peace. Notice Jesus offers not just any peace, rather, he offers his peace, which I truly believe gives us an untroubled soul, a peaceful melody within us.
So, today, will you allow yourself to be quieted before the Lord (Psalm 62:5), praying for a reassuring faith that will allow you to have a peaceful melody in your heart, a stillness like the setting of the sun, a lasting peace, all offered to you by Jesus, who among other things, is called the Prince of Peace.
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