got fruit? got peace?
July 23, 2021
Do you have a friend in whose company you feel completely peaceful? My friend, Lisa, is that person for me and she could be the poster child for the fruit of the Spirit, “peace”. During the three decades of our friendship, we have had many adventures, some of which were life threatening. Whether nearly drowning in a lake, getting struck by lightning, or almost crashing in the air, Lisa managed to remain calm while I proclaimed, “We’re gonna die!”
One threat occurred when Lisa and I were on a flight from Germany to Philadelphia during the “Blizzard of 2003” which had crippled the east coast of the U.S. When we were about 3 hours from landing in Philadelphia, I noticed the plane’s nose was dipped downward and felt as though we were descending rather rapidly. I looked around at the passengers and everyone seemed quite peaceful while I was certain we were in the midst of a premature crash landing. So I turned to Lisa and said, “Does it feel like we are going to crash?” (translate that as, “We’re gonna die!”). Lisa looked out the window, and then at the altimeter,on the screen in front of her, and noticed the numbers were “flying” in a downward direction. Without answering my question, she then closed the window shade, turned off her screen, and sat back in her seat, folded her arms over her chest, and closed her eyes. I was not sure how to interpret that, but knowing she is such a peaceful person, I thought it best to follow suit. So I assumed the peaceful position, outwardly that is, rather than the crash position, even though I was sure we were “gonna die”.
Truly longer story shorter, the plane was descending rapidly, not because we were crashing, but because there was a medical emergency onboard and we had to land as soon as possible. We landed safely at JFK on a runway that was surrounded by walls of snow and eventually made it home without incident. It was a harrowing experience which contained little peace! Even peaceful Lisa, admitted that much.
Peace is not an easy spiritual fruit to embrace when in the midst of anxious moments like impending crashes, or in a world filled with global pandemics, war, violence, financial chaos, and broken relationships. However, Christ did not promise us the absence of trouble in this life, but He did promise His presence in the midst of tribulation.
In John 16: 33, Jesus said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” It is worth noting a few things:
- Jesus did not promise peace; He offered it. He said, “In Me you may have peace.”
- Jesus did promise tribulation in this world. He said, “In the world you will have tribulation.”
- Jesus promised that we could have an untroubled heart even in a troubled life. He said, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Peace is certainly not the absence of conflicts, troubles, or threats to our lives. However, peace is definitely the presence of God! With faith in God and His Son, with the receiving of His Spirit and His peace, we can have an untroubled heart in a quite troubled life.
While I have ENJOYED great peace in the presence of Lisa, I have the JOY of perfect peace in the presence of the Lord.
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. – Psalm 16: 11
So how are you doing? got fruit? got peace?