True Peace

There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he wanted to choose between.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged and rough. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell, and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a raging waterfall. But behind the waterfall a tiny bush was growing in a crack in the rock. In that bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest quietly shielding her young from danger.

The King awarded the second picture. “Because," explained the King, “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart."

John 14:27 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. - Jesus

John 16:33 “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." - Jesus

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