Have You Got My Peace?

On Monday morning I woke up forty-five minutes earlier, lit a candle, switched on my fairy lights, and I hopped in the shower to have a good hair wash. Those with wavy or curly hair will know what I mean by a ‘good hair wash’. I used shampoo, conditioner, a hair mask, I scrunched my waves, and wrapped it up in a cotton shirt because apparently that helps hair not to frizz. Then I used a hair moisturiser, picked out what to wear, had some breakfast and a coffee, and I packed my bag ready for work. I found peace. 

It wasn’t long, however, until I lost that peace. It took me a few tries to get out of a tight parking space, the junction I joined the motorway at had a restricted speed limit, and Radio 1 played a song with a strong base, and every time it’s played I comment aloud, alone in my car, “that is not a morning song”. 

This made me consider how easy it is to lose our peace. 

When I was little, my favourite book was one called ‘have you got my purr?’ It was about a fluffy white, black and ginger kitten that lived in a barn with farm animals. One day, she ‘lost’ her purr, so she visited each of the animals asking if they had it. She’d say, “cow, have you got my purr?” and the cow would reply, “I’m sorry little kitten, I only have my moo. Why don’t you ask Pig?”. Pig said she only had her oink, the ducks only had their quack, and so it went on. Eventually, after a long day of searching, Little Kitten returned to her mother and, all snuggled up, calm and safe, found that her purr had come back; it was within her all along. The other animals watched silently, listening to the most perfect purr they ever heard. 

I wonder whether peace is something that is always within us, like Little Kitten’s purr, but sometimes we need to return back to a space that we know is safe to sense peace.  Sometimes, we look in the wrong places; of course cow doesn’t have the kitten’s purr! 

In John chapter 14, Jesus comforts his disciples by promising that when He leaves, the The Holy Spirit will be with them still. He is giving them this comfort, and a ‘final reminder’ of his teachings, because in a few chapters time we read that Jesus is arrested, crucified, and killed.

26 The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 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.

Listening to the news, scrolling social media feeds, sitting in classes preparing for exams, it can be easy to feel like we have lost our peace, and we need to go on an expedition to find it, perhaps looking in the wrong places. But Jesus gives us this promise that although He does not walk the earth anymore, His peace is very much still here through the Holy Spirit. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you”. 

I found peace in a slow, gentle morning, and that’s okay. Perhaps you find peace in your favourite boxset, going out for a walk in nature, having a bath. But all these things fade; eventually the series finishes, it’s time to come home after your walk, or the bath water gets cold. Earthly things will fade, but The Word of the Lord stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). The place we find real peace, even in raging waves, in the valley, in suffering and confusion, is in Jesus. This is not a fleeting peace, it’s not on any conditions, it’s something that is even beyond our understanding. And it’s within you, and it’s within me. We only have to return to Jesus to find it. 

 

I found peace in the river

I found peace by quiet streams

And I found peace on the mountain

I found peace in fields of green

And I found peace in the desert

I found peace in raging waves

And I found peace in the valley

I found peace in what you said

Oh, and I can finally breathe again

I can finally breathe again

And I found peace in the chaos

I found peace in suffering

And I found peace in confusion

I found peace inside of me

Oh, and I can finally breathe again

I can finally breathe again

I can finally breathe again

And I can finally breathe again

I, I can finally breathe again

I can finally breathe again

‘Cause I found You in the river

I found You in suffering

And I found You on the mountain

You were always around me

Peace – Anna Golden