Peace starts with the wolrd within us, not outside us.

​I just want to live in peace.

I've said that, maybe you've said that, in response to the question: what is it that you truly want out of life?

As I consider my desire for peace, and how it's been hard to find at times, I think I have to own that I've too often pursued peace outside-in instead of inside-out. I think I have to own I've spent way to much time trying to make the world around me a peaceful place instead of me a peaceful person.

Maybe that's because I too often buy into the lie that the road to peace starts with the world around and not the world within.

I've been reflecting lately on a powerful scripture - John 16:7.

Jesus is telling his disciples that he's going to be leaving soon. Of course, this doesn't sit well with them. Just like it wouldn't sit well with us if someone we loved said they were leaving. But Jesus tells them - oh, don't be sorrowful - this is for your good.

Jesus says in John 16:7 - "nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."

Jesus did leave. He did send a comforter in the form of His spirit. And here's the thing I too often forget. That comforter didn't buy a house in my neighborhood, he boldly moved in INSIDE me.

Isn't that a beautiful thing? That Jesus made it so we didn't have to go wading through the often noisy and un-peaceful world looking for comfort. Isn't it a beautiful thing that Jesus made comfort the most accessible thing we have in our lives - like in this very second we all have the opportunity to shut out the noise of the world and say "good morning comfort."

I know many of you reading this don't believe that. I don't either many days.

But I have to be fair to Jesus and ask myself, when I'm looking for peace, how often do I start with me? How often do I try to dim the noise of the world, spend quiet time in prayer and meditation, seek comfort from within before I go looking for comfort outside?

And how often do I go into the world, wrestling to arrange it in a way that I think looks like peace, battling against the elements I think stand in the way of that peace, constantly looking for the path that looks like the quickest way to peace.

How often do I consider peace starts with me and not with you?

How often do I consider Jesus left not to take peace with him, but to give us our best chance at it?

A chance that starts within me, and not around me.