We are grateful for the time spent with family on our recent trip which included a visit to Disney World. While in the park I must say that I had never seen as many baby strollers or expensive tennis shoes! More seriously, at a critical moment our son was trying to help our grandson Jace take a nap. We found a quiet corner in the park with some shade. But our quiet zone was quickly interrupted by another child that had been brought into the shady space for the same reason. The only problem was the child was inconsolable. It was an all-too-common scene of overtired children desperately needing to sleep but struggling to be pacified. Long and loud screams disturbed the quiet space and now interrupted the ability of our grandson to rest. My son somewhat cynically looked over at me and said, “This is where the magic begins”. We both just chuckled for a moment. Inconsolable crying in a place where magical and “happy ever after” scenes unfold. Quite an irony. Of course, there were many happy and joyful experiences beyond this critical moment. This event serves as a microcosm of larger events that reminds us there is:
Lack of Peace in Our World
In 1982 A Couple looking to retire and researched the most peaceful place in the world. It was the Falkland Islands. They moved. Guess what happened? Conflict arose between Argentina and the British rule of the Island. In the most peaceful place in the world the peace was broken!
So we see that we cannot escape the brokenness in our world…It is the MISSING PEACE that we experience personally and globally and since Genesis 3 and 4. Cain is still killing Abel. As Milton titled his classic book, we are living in Paradise Lost…
Again, we see evidence of this on a personal level and on a national and global level. The history of the world is primarily filled with wars and conflicts. Many are happening even today. War in Ukraine and Middle East and parts of Africa are in great conflict today. But some of these conflicts have been generational since the time of Abraham.
Many examples of lack of peace in the bible.
Cain killing his brother Abel (first example of conflict from the Curse)
I highlight this because it is really the origin of struggle from the dawn of creation until now. But there are many other examples of people in discomfort. It reminds us again how truthful and relevant the bible is for us today. Real people and real struggles that we all experience. We might think about:
Rachel weeping for her children related to the slaughter of children under Herod during the time of Jesus birth.
Hannah crying in her barrenness wanting a child
David crying over the loss of his son
But perhaps one of the most famous examples is:
Israel in the Wilderness I think this story is a microcosm of life in our broken world also.
On another experience from Disney World, we were in the Magic Kingdom and boarded the Winnie the Pooh ride. It is a ride where they put 4-5 people in a honey pot. But half-way through our Honey Pot broke down. They had to come and unlock the doors and lead us out of the ride. This happened on our last trip to Disney World also? So the question:
What do you do when your Honey Pot breaks down?
Curse and fume…Many do. I think some were cursing when the ride broke down! On a much greater level this is like Job’s wife after he loses everything. She told him to curse God and die! But Job maintained his integrity and his faith, even when he did not fully understand what was happening or why.
The Children of Israel in the wilderness were complaining and grumbling over the lack of food and sparse conditions and wanted to go back to Egypt because they expected much more than a dry and weary land that threated their survival. They were hungry and angry. They were so upset they wanted to stone Moses and Aaron. It was a place advertised as a “land of milk and honey”. But their honey pot broke down…and they were not happy campers! There was no peace in their camp! They were totally absorbed in the moment.
They were focused on their past and not their future. Their whole orientation was over what they lost more than what they would gain.
In the immediate context of the scripture from John 14, Jesus is teaching the disciples about the coming of the Spirit to comfort and guide the disciples, especially since Jesus is about to be crucified and then return to God. He knew the disciples would be greatly disappointed and grieving over his death and departure and was trying to teach them that they were not left alone. Matter of fact, he stated that it was better for them that he departs so that the Holy Spirit would come! This was all part of God’s greater plan! And Jesus was reminding them that His Peace would be given to them.
These words from John 14 are most often read at funerals or memorial services. I will be reading them again this week at the service for Linda Bryant on Friday. But we stand on the promises of Jesus and have the blessed assurance of His Spirt. We know that God’s peace is not an absence of conflict but an anchor of hope in the darkness that propels us forward in hope of God’s greater redemptive plan. Even when we cannot see it now.
The Texas flooding and the tragic losses of so many lives have made headlines this past week. There is such immense grief over so many losses, especially children. I am grateful for the prayers and gifts that you have made for those families and for the leadership in those areas affected even as we pray for people who are giving aide and those doing recovery work now. It is shocking to see images and we feel empathy for those who are deeply grieving now. This is another sobering reminder of events that disturb the peace in our world.
Jesus did teach here…In the world you WILL have trouble…Jesus does not deliver us directly from hardships or heartaches. And it is ok to grieve and lament over losses. I think laments are good to express our grief and articulate our sorrows.
I was reminded of the Psalms of Lament over defeats, deaths, destructive natural events and feeling of betrayal and abandonment. Examples of Lament Psalms:
Psalm 6: This psalm expresses deep anguish and fear due to illness and distress, pleading for God’s mercy and healing.
Psalm 13: This psalm focuses on the feeling of being forsaken by God, questioning how long the suffering will last but also declaring trust in God’s steadfast love.
Psalm 22: This psalm is a powerful expression of suffering, including physical pain, social isolation, and a sense of being abandoned by God. Remember Jesus spoke this Psalm from the cross!
Psalm 38: This psalm is a fervent expression of guilt and pain, pleading for God’s mercy and relief from suffering.
Psalm 88: This psalm is one of the darkest lament psalms, expressing profound despair and a sense of God’s distance.
Psalm 130: This psalm begins with a cry from the depths of despair, expressing hope in God’s forgiveness and redemption.
I listen to County Music sometimes. Country Music Industry makes a living off dramatizing heartache. I recall one song’s lyrics, I’ve got tears in my ears, lying in my bed crying over you!” Bars are filled with lonely and brokenhearted people. And people often try to numb their pain by taking pills and alcohol. But that becomes a rabbit hole that leaves us in worse condition. Our pain and self-pity become like a broken record that keeps playing over and over again. We never get over the pain and heartache, but it becomes like a pathological pull that glorifies our pain, and we wear it like cowboy boots and a Stetson hat. But the problem here is that we never get over the heartache. Our heart remains broken and without real peace.
Someone has more humorously asked, “What do you get when you play a country music record backwards?” The answer: You get your wife back. Your truck back. You kids back. You get out of jail. You get everything back!!
Lamenting our losses is good and helpful in the grieving process. But God desires something greater in bringing His peace to abide in us through the Holy Spirit.
We find in this passage Jesus is teaching the Spirit brings to mind specific scriptures and truths that offer hope and reassurance, such as the promise of eternal life and God’s unwavering love. The Spirit brings:
Strengthening and Empowerment:
The Holy Spirit equips believers with the strength and courage to face challenges, enabling them to persevere and find hope even in the midst of hardship.
A great example of this is when Paul and Silas were beaten and put in prison. And what were they doing? They were not grumbling or complaining or blaming others. They were singing! Acts 16 records this incident. They prayed and sang, and amazingly, the prison doors were opened by an earthquake. How did that happen? I believe it was the Holy Spirit. The Spirit brings us to praise and worship and release us from our chains, our worries, our fears. We claim the promises of God and give praise in the midst of the worst of circumstances. This is supernatural intervention during our struggle. So, ultimately the Holy Spirit brings: Peace and Tranquility:
The Holy Spirit can bring a sense of peace and tranquility that surpasses understanding, helping to calm anxieties and fears.
Paul and Silas were in prison in Philippi. And it is in the book of Philippians chapter 4:6-7 when Paul was in prison, not knowing if he would live or die, that he wrote these words:
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) I think Paul was reminded of Jesus’ words about His Peace being in us when he wrote these verses. Let me bring this closer to home as I close.
During WW2 a woman was brought to America from France. She was expecting a child and ended up losing her child in a NY hospital. The head nurse came to tell her the baby died. As you might imagine there was utter heartbreak for this young mother. The head nurse struggled with words to say. The nurse asked if the mother had seen the little boy across the hall. No, she had not. She was totally absorbed in her loss. The nurse said the little boy’s mother had died. His mother had come from France and all their family had been killed during the war. And she had to go tell that little boy his mother died and he was homeless. Then the nurse asked, “Will you go help me tell him?” The young mother dried tears from her eyes and went to console the child. Her darkness met with light, and she was able to move beyond her own pain in that moment to embrace a new mission of another broken heart.
I believe the Holy Spirit is the Head Nurse that is moving us beyond our tears and heartaches to embrace a mission that transcends our hurts and losses. As Henri Nouwen named it, we are all “Wounded Healers”. Our wounds and scars will be used to speak into the lives of others wounded and missing peace in their lives. This is how the Holy Spirit operates!
But even more, to recognize that in Christ, we do not lose anything! We have the promise and hope that Jesus is coming again to restore His peace to rule over the whole world. Back to Milton, Paradise Lost will become Paradise Regained. And to Jesus words…In the world…your Honey Pot will break down! But rather than curse and fume and complain or blame… Be of good cheer! There is a better ride coming! Jesus has overcome the world!! Now we can live in His Peace! Amen!