“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 (NIV)
Imagine God extending His hand toward you, holding a gift wrapped in divine light — His peace. In exchange, He asks you to hand over your worries, anxieties, and fears. It may sound unusual, but that’s exactly what He desires from us according to John 14:27.
But what kind of peace does the world offer?
When we think of “peace,” many picture meditation practices that promise calmness — often by emptying the mind or focusing on soothing sounds to forget about life’s problems.
Yet, God doesn’t want us to ignore our problems. He wants us to entrust them to Him. His method of dealing with burdens is not escape, but exchange — our cares for His peace.
And the way we do that is through prayer.
Ellen G. White beautifully describes it this way:
“Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend.” (Prayer, p. 280.2)
You might wonder, “But doesn’t God already know my problems?”
She continues:
“Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him.” (Prayer, p. 280.2)
When we pray, we are not informing God of what He doesn’t know — we are inviting Him in. And when we receive Him, we receive His peace — a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
Jesus is called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and His peace is unlike anything the world can imitate. The world’s version of peace may offer temporary calm or emotional distraction, but God’s peace transforms the heart.
Ellen White concludes that same passage with a powerful truth:
“Prayer does not bring God down to us, but takes us up to Him.” (Prayer, p. 280.2)
Isn’t that incredible? True prayer lifts our thoughts from earth to heaven. It doesn’t lead us into emptiness but into the very presence of God — where peace flows endlessly, steadfastly, and perfectly.
In His presence is ultimate peace. True peace. Infinite peace.
Application: Choosing the Right Source of Peace
Ask yourself: What kind of peace am I depending on today?
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Is it circumstantial peace — “I’ll be at peace when everything goes right”?
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Is it escapist peace — turning to entertainment or distractions to forget pain?
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Or is it suppressed peace — pretending the hurt doesn’t exist instead of surrendering it to God?
Jesus gently invites us:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28
Today, choose God’s peace — the peace that comes through prayer, through surrender, and through His presence. He offers it freely, abundantly, and eternally. 🌿
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