But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:17
In Chapter 2, Tracie Miles in Stress-Less Living explores stress and peace. One does not find the words stress and peace hanging out together very often. So beloved, how do you reconcile the word stress with Jesus’ words in John 14:27. We see in John 14, Jesus comforts the disciples.
Jesus speaks to the disciples in John 14: 1-7
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in Goda ; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Jesus confirms that He is God’s son, to see Him was to see God. In John 14: 9-14, Jesus answers Philip’s question: How can you say, “Show us the Father.” Jesus reassure the disciples that they can ask anything in Jesus’ name and Jesus will do it. Jesus then tells the disciples that God will send the Advocate, the Comforter to teach us and to remind of the things that Jesus said and did while on the earth. These verses John 14: 15-26 share that if we love Jesus we will keep the commandments and we will show our love by keeping the commands. He promises that when Jesus fulfills His mission we will receive the Holy Spirit. John 14: 26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
The disciples most likely were feeling feelings of stress when Jesus was explaining that He was going away? The world as they knew it was going to change. Do you think they fully comprehended what was going to happen with Jesus? What would happen to the disciples?
Beloved, Tracie shares in her book on page 44, “Stress is like a ticking time bomb and if ignored, will eventually result in an emotional implosion–riddling our spirits with virtual bullet holes, destroying our bodies, which are God’s temples, and scatter emotional shrapnel over every area of our lives.” What is causing you stress? Have you been laid off? Are you having daily headaches? Are you in constant pressure to do? Are you struggling to make ends meet? Is there more month than money? Are you caring for an elderly love one? Are you home schooling and working at the same time or you have health issues or your child has health issues? Do you have conflict with your manager or your co-worker? Are you separated from your husband? Has your husband asked you for a divorce after many years of marriage? Do you have insomnia, migraine headaches, or fibromyalgia?
In Chapter 2, Tracie asks, “What does peace look like to you?” Jesus declares in John 14:27, “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.” Is your peace based on the love of Christ?
It is not to late to join our study or Stress-Less Living at http://www.traciemiles.com. If you would like the book and can not afford it, please private message me at Diana Manley Rockwell on Facebook or send me an email at blessingsrockwell@gmail.com. I will need your address.
