Verses:
John 14:27 says “I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift that the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
John 14: 17-19 says “He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans-I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.”
John 16:33 says “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Devo:
Can I be honest with yall? Lately I’ve been so bummed out by our world. The broken world that we live in, and the hateful world that specifically targets our blue family.
Several days ago one of my best friends shared something on social media (oh, social media, you crazy crazy thing) about police that I had found upsetting-mostly because it wasn’t true. As often happens, the news had hurriedly shared something about an OIS (officer involved shooting) that was inaccurate, and the article was spreading like wildfire, getting people all worked up about an incident that was completely skewed. It turned into a conversation about injustice and black lives matter and internal investigations that, although was respectful and calm, was deeply upsetting to me. Today, I woke up to articles reporting on the madness happening in Memphis and the 25 (25!!) officers that have been injured so far due to riots and protests. Because our officers are trying to do their job.
You guys, my heart has been so tired. It’s been so heavy. We read about the war that our officers face and we witness it in our daily lives and it can feel like it’s never going to end. It can feel like we’re drowning, and when we’re not, we’re just treading water waiting for the next incident or murder or riot to happen.
I was laying in bed, feeling beaten down by the world and these recent events, when I opened my Bible app to read a few chapters to reset my mind and my heart. I opened to John 14, and immediately felt…comforted. Validated. Encouraged.
This world is broken, friends. We live in a very divided society. We face a lot of hate. But Jesus already knew that would be the case. He promises us a gift that cannot be found in the world but only through Him. We can search and search our world-this crazy, broken world-to find answers or justice or peace, but we’re not always going to find it.
But we will always find it through Him.
Prayer:
Lord, lighten my heart. I need you to come close today and wrap Your arms around me and the others who might be hurting or questioning or struggling with discouragement. We live in a broken world but we also live in YOU. Remind me of the goodness that there is in this world, and remind me of Your goodness and grace. Do not let my heart be troubled and hardened by circumstance, but let it rest in the grace that comes from You.