In Christ, fear cannot rub us of peace.

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My grandfather was a major league baseball scout. My dad was a respected pitcher in the Cascade League in the Pacific Northwest. Needless to say, baseball is in my blood, but I was a terrible baseball player.

Golden, Colorado

I couldn’t get out of the way of a baseball fast enough when it was either thrown or hit at me. The ball was way to hard and I was way to soft (emotionally speaking) that I didn’t want to play the game.

Fear of the ball kept me from enjoying baseball.

Fear has a way of keeping us from enjoying God’s peace.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
John 14:27 English Standard Version

Jesus had a great deal to be afraid of the night that he spoke these words to his disciples. In a few short hours he would be handed over to people who hated him, beaten, and nailed to a cross. Even with this impending storm, Jesus encourages his disciples to not be afraid.

Through his violent death, Jesus has given us the gift of peace. We are at peace with God. We are at peace with each other. This peace in Christ is stronger than our fears which rob us of joy.

We’ll struggle with fear on this journey of life, but the gift of peace is stronger than our fears.

Copyright Douglas P Brauner