What God has promised and what God has not promised, John 14:27 with a story by Berit Kjos about the perfect picture of peace

SCRIPTURE: John 14:27 (NLT)
"I am leaving you with a gift -- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid.”

A STORY as told by Berit Kjos in his book, A Wardrobe from the King:

Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered.

The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled.

As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd.

A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.

The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace?

A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.

A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.

AN OBSERVATION:
The one thing that is heard repeatedly during any particular day is, “I just want my life to be peaceful”. Speaks to my heart, doesn’t it yours?

Layer upon layer upon layer of expectations, demands, other people’s agendas, pressure, self-esteem issues, roles to be fulfilled, assumptions, miscommunications … and the list continues forever … places our life at the pressure point of breaking. Filled with worry and heartache. And, all the while all any of us ever want is peace – in the midst of the trouble that life brings our way, peace – harmony – hope – possibilities – happiness … PEACE!

I love this story told above. If any of us were challenged to paint a picture of peace it would probably be the first picture and yet, the ability to build a nest in the midst of the threatening conditions indicated in the second picture is more to the point of our reality.

Jesus calls the peace he offers “beyond the understanding of the world” – as in something that the world cannot offer because it doesn’t understand it. It could just possibly be a reality for each of us, “this peace that passes all understanding,” if we only trust God to do in our life what we cannot get accomplished via any other means.

PRAYER:
Some years ago I came across a poem. The first verse and chorus I carried for years in my wallet. It brought peace to the soul in the midst of troubled times and I offer it today as the prayer for peace in your life and mine:

God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

CHORUS:
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.

God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain, rocky and steep,
Never a river, turbid and deep.