Dear First Pres,
I’ve said this before, but it’s worth saying again. Months ago, when I sensed the Lord was calling our church to focus on prayer for the summer, I had no idea how much we’d need it. What a summer it’s been, and this week has been yet another very troubling week in our nation.
Certainly, one of the things that the Lord has done in me during this season (really, since the start of the pandemic), is to expose my idols and my blindspots. It’s as if the Lord is using the trouble in the world to reveal all the places I’ve mistakenly put my trust.
My peace is not in my health. My peace is not my bank account or investment report. My peace is not in my job performance. My peace is not in a political ideology. My peace is not in the safety of my neighborhood. My peace is not in the approval of men. My peace is not in achieving my quarterly goals. My peace is not in the policies of our government. My peace is not in the well-being of my family. My peace is not in the morality of our nation.
All those (and more) are places I’ve tried to find peace. But if there is a sense of peace in any of them, it’s ultimately fleeting.
This morning I came to the Lord in prayer after scanning the newspaper headlines. Even with all that is troubling me about our world right now and with all that is troubling me about our church and with all that is troubling me about my own life, something wonderful happened as I focused my attention on the Lord. He filled me afresh with His peace. Praise Him!
After sitting and resting in that peace for a few minutes, the Lord brought to mind the words of Jesus to the disciples at the end of the Upper Room Discourse (John 14 - 16 from the night of Jesus’ arrest). Listen carefully to the words of Jesus. “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.” John 16:33
Beloved of God, our peace is in Jesus. He told us that there would be trouble in the world. But in Him, the victorious and eternal King, we find our peace.
Is He the One in whom you are seeking peace today?
It doesn’t mean we don’t care about what’s happening in the world. It doesn’t mean we ignore it. No, quite the opposite. But as we engage for His Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven, we do so as agents of His Kingdom, full of peace, and hope, and love, and grace, and truth.
May that be true of First Presbyterian Church Fresno today.
Blessings,
Pastor Jeremy
P.S. There are so many stories of God working in powerful ways through the Summer Prayer Project. This week is the official end, but consider with your group if the Lord would have you continue. Maybe He’d have you invite others to join you or multiply your group or deploy into other areas of service. Seek Him and be obedient to the way He leads.
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