Last week, Jesus called my name and I found him in the darkness, in the moment of despair, through simple conversation with my friend. I was off of Facebook for about a month just because I was working through some important things. One friend who cared enough about me was thinking about me. He had dreams about me and the fact he did not see me on Facebook began to worry him. He asked my brother about me, but my brother hadn’t heard from me for about a month as well. As he explicated the dream to me, I was encourage, because I can identify God’s voice through the dream. For me, it was a confirmation of God’s presence in my life. I’ve leaned over the past six years not to overlook the simple things or the ordinary things in life. God uses them to communicate to us. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27 NIV)
Peace I give you Jesus said. Not like the world gives it, but my peace I give you. These words never sunk in so deep as I felt them today sitting at the local McDonalds reflecting in these very word of Christ. Christ was very intentional with how he phrased these sentence and chose the vocabulary. Peace, not like the world gives it, but his peace. He wants me and you to know what we are getting are ourselves into. It is not the peace of absence of the war around us. Christ’s peace is attainable even in suffering, crisis of life, and even at point of losing one’s life in this world. In fact, Scripture is pretty clear, one must lose his life to find Christ. “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25 NIV). Yes, this is life in the sense of one’s desire, treasure, and whatever else stands in the way of receiving Christ the greatest treasure of them all. Does that sound like peace? We are not foolish; we know the world is corrupt of its peace. In this world’s definition of peace, peace for one is injustice to another. No wonder! None of us have what justice required, which is the only way of obtaining peace. Christ the only just one suffered injustice and provided justice for us all. Only he can give peace. The world can’t give peace, nor can it give proper justice, but Christ’s peace is incorruptible and firm, and his justice is absolute. If he set me and you free, we are free indeed. Why am I saying this? Because in the eyes of the world we are a bunch of losers who don’t know what to do with our lives. In all honesty, just as I as I am speaking right now, they do indeed seem like they are the one who have it all together.
God’s peace doesn’t come without leaving the desire of this world behind. Having the world’s desire in mind is a danger to our peace in Christ. Christ’s peace is this: we are already won, no more worrying, no more fighting to proved oneself, no more worries about what my future will bring. No one can rob me of this peace Jesus gives me. However, the world with all of its deceiving desires tells us we lack peace and satisfaction. It raises prophets to lie about the children of God, it raises those who are in power to destroy the peace that Christ gives, it raises those who would condemn you before the world and in doing so tries to rob you of Christ’s peace within you. Do you have God’s peace? How do you have peace when you only live by what you see and hear. All I see and hear is that the world will fix it. This is a lie. The world cannot fix anything. There is more to me and you than this world can offer. Though I suffer for a little while I will not live the world’s lie. How can we not be troubled and afraid if we are living the world’s lie that it can give peace and bring forth justice. Thanks be to God, my justice is already paid. I am already won. This injustice I now suffering is momentary, so I can give a deeper meaning to my victory when I am there. I will hold on to my Jesus. I will not give up because his peace and joy are my witness and my shield.
I cried, “Where are you Jesus?” There, he answer in the dark. I am with you my child. There is no darkness for me. I am here with you. In fact, everywhere you go I am present. Don’t let the darkness scared you so that you are overcome by fear and are unable to hear my voice when I whispered your name. Remember what the Psalmist wrote: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you” (Psalm 139:7-12 NIV).
Just because you are in the dark, suffering, in pain, and disappointed please don’t think Christ is not there. He is and is in fact calling your name. All you need to do is to do what Peter did, to answer in faith, Lord may I walk to you! Then you will find him in the dark (Matthew 14:28).
This video I believe is a form of lament, when you feel God is far. http://youtu.be/8LQH6UDi15s