By Becky Upchurch
John 14:27
For the last 30 years, my husband, Alan, and I have been driving back and forth to the family ranch in Leakey. Leakey is about 2 hours away in a “rough” part of the Texas Hill Country. The last half of the drive, unlike most in Texas, features not only a 2 lane road and narrow shoulders, but also ups and downs, and twists and curves, and drop offs like a drive across the Rockies, with the occasional deer running across the road just to keep you on your toes. Over the years we have come upon numerous accidents, injured people, and ambulances. There is even a sign that tells you how many motorists have lost their lives on the road in the last 10 years. In spite of this history, as we reached that part of the road on our Thanksgiving Day trek to the ranch, I tilted my seat back, closed my eyes, and dozed as Alan drove. How was I able to do that in the midst of this drive that has people on their first trip saying, “Is there another way to get back to San Antonio? I don’t want to go on that road again!” I had peace and could rest because, with eyes wide open, I had experienced Alan’s driving on the road many times before and I trusted that he could do it again.
In the same way, my experience with God gives me peace. And it’s not just there when the road becomes difficult, but God’s peace is there all the time like an underlying current to support and settle me. Peace is God’s gift to me and to you. The peace of knowing that we are never alone, that God has a plan, and that through His Gift of Jesus Christ we have eternal life in Him.
In this holiday season and beyond, find rest in God’s incredible gift of peace.