Finding inner Peace | week 9
FINDING INNER PEACE
Week’s Passage:John 14
InTro
An Anxious Heart
The author recounts growing up with anxiety and a troubled mind after their father abandoned the family when they were ten, leaving them to face life’s challenges in a broken home in Brooklyn, New York. They struggled with feelings of emptiness, fear, and insecurity about finances, safety, and guidance. Despite trying to distract themselves with activities like sports, the fears persisted, leading to self-doubt and isolation during their teenage years. However, they eventually found peace and healing by applying God’s solution to anxiety through faith in Jesus.
InGest
Is Real Peace possible
Anxiety, characterized by symptoms such as headaches, heart palpitations, and a sense of heaviness, often leads individuals to feel overwhelmed and fearful about the future, resulting in isolation and diminished daily joy. Jesus, referred to as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), offers a peace distinct from worldly offerings, attainable through the Holy Spirit (John 14:27). On the night of His arrest, aware of His disciples’ impending fear, Jesus reassured them, emphasizing trust in Him as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). He encouraged reliance on God through prayer, obedience to His teachings, and embracing the Holy Spirit’s presence. This profound peace, beyond worldly understanding, grows stronger amidst greater troubles.
InTerpret
Peace and The Christian
In ancient Eastern cultures, greetings often included wishes for peace, but Jesus offered a unique, divine peace in John 14:27—a peace of mind and heart that the world cannot provide. This peace comes from His victory over sin and death, giving believers encouragement amidst trials (John 16:33). The Greek word eirēnē encompasses inner calm, the end of conflict, and the kingdom of peace brought by the Messiah, as foretold in Isaiah 9:6. Through Christ’s sacrifice, believers are justified by faith and reconciled with God (Romans 5:1), gaining foundational peace for all aspects of life. God’s perfect peace is real and available to all who trust in Him.
Invite
Taking our Anxieties to Jesus
The author reflects on past struggles to find God’s peace, realizing their focus on self and discontentment hindered them. True peace comes by turning to God in prayer, as Philippians 4:6 teaches, presenting anxieties with thanksgiving. Gratitude shifts our perspective, while meditating on what is true and good (Phil. 4:8) fills us with peace. Trusting in God’s promises and focusing on His truth combats anxiety and brings freedom (John 8:32, Prov. 12:25). God’s will is for us to have joy, peace, and hope (Rom. 15:13). For those with clinical anxiety, seeking professional help alongside prayer is vital for healing.
InSight
A Life of Peace
Christ, the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), restores the peace broken by sin. True peace comes through faith in Him (Romans 5:1), filling the heart with love and harmony with God and others. Before His crucifixion, Jesus left His disciples His peace, which sustained Him through trials. This peace, rooted in trust and surrender to God, brings perfect rest and joy, undisturbed by worldly troubles (Isaiah 26:3).
InQuire
•What do you think are the most common causes of anxiety in the young adult stage of life?
•What reasons did the disciples have to be anxious and fearful on the night Jesus was arrested? (John 14–18.)
•What’s the significance of Jesus promising peace on the night peace seemed so impossible to have? (John 14:1, 27; 16:33.)
•What practical steps do you see in Philippians 4:6–9 for overcoming anxiety and finding peace?
•What other Bible promises are meaningful to you when you struggle with anxiety?
