Our devotional today comes from TCU student Erin Carter. She is a freshman Religion and Psychology double major. Erin is part of TCU RUF, TCU Delight, and Gamma Phi Beta. She is also a member of Calling in Action (CIA), a Christian student dance organization on campus. You can check out her sister, Audrey, and several other members of TCU CIA in their Carols by Candlelight performance. A link to our first-ever digital Carols by Candlelight service will be shared this afternoon!
Reading:
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid”. (John 14:27)
Reflection:
Throughout the past four months, my life has felt like waves crashing over me time and time again. As soon as one is gone, the tide comes back in only to be stronger and more powerful than ever before. This year has been nothing but heartbreak after heartbreak for me. I have been exhausted from hearing continuous bad news not only for the world as a whole but also in personal matters; I have found myself searching and yearning just for a breath of air between each crashing wave. Not only have I been trekking through a season of loneliness and hopelessness, but so have all those around me, ranging from my family, to close friends, to strangers.
No matter what is happening personally, peace is something so many of us desire but lack the strive for. We get so caught up in the way the world presents peace to the point where we forget that the Lord is waiting patiently for us to come running back to Him to ask for true peace. We need to check ourselves and ask if we’re only searching for peace in the world that creates instant results (such as self-care nights with facemasks and Netflix breaks) or if we are searching for an everlasting peace of The Lord that is for His ultimate glory.
“Peace,” a song by Bethel Music, has been such a reminder for me to fully lay my life down before Jesus in these moments where I seek for peace.
“Peace
Holds me when I’m broken
Sweet peace
That passes understanding
When the whole wide world is crashing down
I fall to my knees
And breathe in Your peace”
Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for a season of brokenness because it gives us opportunity to grow closer to You. Remind us that You have not let us go in the midst of chaos. Lord, You bring everlasting peace for Your glory and it is so hard to remember sometimes. Allow us to focus on You and Your peace rather than worldly and temporary pleasures. Amen.
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