Devotional

March 2008

Living By The Word
By Dr. Alvonia McCoy

Scriptures: Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33

In these troubled times of terrorism, violence, inflation and rising unemployment, I am reminded of a young single mom who shared with me how she cried out to God in her despair. You see she had tried finding love and happiness in all the wrong places, only to find herself feeling alone and rejected. In her moment of desperation, she told God He could do with her what He will, even if it meant never having another man in her life. All she desired was to experience our loving Father's peace.

The Hebrew word for peace is shalom, which means wholeness. In Christ we are made whole. You see, peace is a result of God's presence in our lives. Through His Holy Spirit believers are able to be victorious in the midst of life's storms. It is in times of turmoil we come to know that the peace of God surpasses human understanding. According to John 14:27 our peace is not dependent upon our circumstances, but Jesus, only. This is why we need to make the decision to trust Him totally, no matter what.