Peace in a perfect time to panic

In the first Toy Story film, Woody and Buzz find themselves far from their owner Andy's house. Stuck in a petrol station, Woody begins to despair that they will never make it back before Andy and his family move in two days' time. Buzz looks at Woody with a cool, calm gaze and says "This is no time to panic." Woody throws up his hands in the air and explodes, "This is the perfect time to panic!"

I don't know about you but I often find myself in situations where panic seems not only inevitable but even appropriate. What makes the scene in Toy Story so funny is that Buzz is convinced that he is the real Buzz Lightyear and the fate of the galaxy rests on his shoulders. To him, Woody's concern about Andy is trivial compared to his own quest. What we don't want to hear when we are in meltdown is some cool removed advice from someone so fixed on what is 'out of this world' that they are unmoved by our predicament. Perhaps Christians can be like Buzz at times. Not delusional, but all we can offer to those tied up in fear is some detached promise of another galaxy ie heaven.

So it's great news that Jesus offers us very real comfort and peace without taking away the tricky situations we often find ourselves in. In John's gospel, Jesus talks to His disciples before going to the garden of Gethsemane, where He would be betrayed and arrested. Jesus knows what is going to happen; in fact, in his gospel, John is at pains to reiterate that Jesus is choosing this path of the cross. Jesus is teaching and preparing His disciples not just for what is about to occur, but for their future ministry once He is risen and ascended to His Father. What I noticed is that Jesus repeats that they should not let their hearts be troubled (chapter 14 verse 1 and verse 27). In fact, they should have peace: 'peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.' (verse 27). Risen from the dead, Jesus says 'Peace be with you' in Luke 24:36; John adds this: 'as the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.' (John 20:21) What is it that links both sections in John's gospel that brings peace? It is the presence of Jesus Himself through the Holy Spirit.

If you're looking for a peace that is unshakable, you don't need to go on a retreat. You don't need to practice Buddhist meditation or yoga or become some kind of monk. That's the kind of peace the world chases, but the real peace that Jesus offers is so precious because it comes from Him being with us in all of our chaos. Jesus doesn't promise an end to all the things that make us panic and fear. He doesn't promise an end to war or pain or suffering or death until His second coming (see Revelation 21). Therefore we need a peace that is not based on circumstances, because if my peace is dependent on having a certain measure of health, happiness or success, then my peace will be fragile indeed. If my peace depends on my family, my job, my money, my status, my appearance or anything I possess, then it is not the peace of Christ. But if Christ Himself could face the cross with a holy peace that came from knowing who He was and what He was doing, and He offers me that same peace, then I can face anything.

The peace of the Holy Spirit
In John 14, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit 'Counsellor'. 'He will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you' (verse 26). This gives us the peace of verse 27. In verse 30, Jesus speaks of His enemy, 'the prince of this world', but says 'he has no hold on me.' That is what we need to remember: if we are in Christ the enemy has no hold on us either, unless we give him that hold through fear or sin. How do we combat fear and sin? Chapter 15 goes on: 'I am the true vine... Remain in Me and I will remain in you.' Sometimes with these well known passages we tend to just look them up as standalone statements, but to do that loses the significant context Jesus speaks into. He knows He is going; He knows He is sending us; He knows we need Him. His words in John 15 give us the key to how to live in Him and through Him and for Him. We need to obey Him and we need to love each other. We need to testify about Jesus, even when it means rejection and dangerous to our lives (chapter 16 verse 2).

But let's get back to Buzz. In some ways we do need to comfort ourselves with the fact that Jesus is coming soon and He is going to take us to be with him and He's prepared a place for us (John 14:2-3). But let's not lose the fact that He is with us now by His Spirit and so we are never alone. Jesus concludes: '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). I'm going to memorize that one and next time I have a perfect time to panic, I'll remind myself that is a perfect time for peace in Him.

Book Review: Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl by Paula Hendricks

I came across this book through Revive our Hearts, as Paula writes for the 'Lies Young Women Believe' blog. It's quite American, and it's aimed at teen girls (so I don't really fit this target audience!), but I did really enjoy reading it, and it definitely challenged me on whether I was really aware of all the idols in my life.

Through honest, personal writing, Paula goes through her relationship history with all the ups and downs. She shares her struggle to be pure, her struggle to feel loved and accepted in Christ, and her struggle to wait for God's plan and timing when it comes to romance. I may be married, but I still identified with much of Paula's story. The temptation to idolise a relationship, to try to find all of your security in it, doesn't disappear once you say your vows. It's also a temptation for me to doubt God's plan for my marriage when things don't seem to be going as well as I want them to.

Paula's book reminds us that we can only be the people God wants us to be when we are saturated in His Word, allowing ourselves to be moulded by it instead of the world's ideology.

I loved her emphasis on grace. It's not about conquering passion with a self control of our own effort, but about understanding the gospel and living a life transformed by the Holy Spirit.

Ultimately, the challenge for all of us is to trust that God knows what's best for us, whether that's marriage or singleness. Paula has encouraged me on my journey and I'm sure she will encourage many other young women to pursue Christ, and end the ongoing cycle of "crushes", daydreams, distraction and heartbreak.