Peace I leave with you

 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

I want to acknowledge the things that have been happening over the past couple of weeks, but it's been hard to know what to say. I posted once on the socials, but I haven't sent any emails to my lovely subscribers - not because I have nothing to say, but rather because I have too much to say.

The response of so many people echoes some of the feelings that over the last few years led me to stop reading or watching things with grit, suspense, horror, or even the news. Other people's pain affects me physically, sometimes to the point of experiencing it vicariously - if you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen me post a few months back about fainting at the optometrist when he described his wife's medical procedures. Which is an inconvenient quality, especially with a Clark Kent day in health care education.

And every day the world gets darker, just like Jesus said it would.

Whenever I hear about terrible things happening in the world, I come back to this promise from Jesus in John 14 that on the surface makes no sense. Right before His death, He promised His disciples peace. His peace. Peace that surpassed understanding. Peace that a man about to be captured, tortured, and killed had no logical reason to feel.

Knowing everything that was to come, He had peace. In sending His Spirit to us, He gave the men who would be tortured and martyred the same peace. He gives the same peace to us.

Which in no way diminishes our feelings of grief, of distress, of horror that the world is the way it is - or our right to have those feelings. They're a valid response to a fallen world. But His Spirit gives us comfort. Solace. Strength to remain steadfast in obedience.

[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, [2] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)