Hope and peace.

Interchangeable in a way.

Interdependent on The Way.

Impossible by my way.

We can try to muster them up, but hope and peace can’t be produced by physical means. We can’t pep talk our way to peace or hold on to hope by our our strength. Peace comes from the presence of God, and hope is found in Christ alone.

We’re reminded in these lyrics from “What a Friend we have in Jesus,”

“Oh, what peace we often forfeit

Oh, what needless pain we bear

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer”

We forfeit peace when we forget the source of peace. When we carry the weight of pain and hurt, we have no grip strength left to hold on to hope.

I’m not saying we won’t suffer, but Jesus in the Gospel of John reminds us that even in the midst of hard times in a hurting world, He is our peace. He is our hope.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬, ESV‬‬)

One of my favorite Christmas movies is a great illustration of what happens when we forfeit peace and defer hope.

Home Alone. The McCallisters were gone while Kevin was left home alone. As soon as his mom discovered he was missing, she went into panic mode. She frantically made her way back home to him. She switched flights, she hitchhiked, she was up all night. And the irony is that she made it home at the same time as the rest of the family, who weren’t frenzied and frantic.

I would have likely responded the same way Kevin’s mom did, but the point still remains — the destination was the same, but the journey could have been vastly different had Kevin’s mom been traveling with peace and hope instead of panic and hurry.

Hope and peace are great companions for our journey “home.” This world is not our home. It’s not our final destination. As we travel heavenward, let’s not defer hope or forfeit peace.