R oeoeoeoeoeeeeee@On & Introduction hat did you do to get us to fall asleep?” Kate texted her mom, Kate was nineteen and a pretty experienced baby- sitter, but ready to retire from that gig after trying for forty-five minutes to get Kyle towind downand fallasleep. Her mother reminisced: "When you were tiny, | would give you a gentle pat-pat, pat-pat on the back, or I'd softly sing ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘When | Survey the Wondrous Cross.’ Sometimes we rocked in the rocking chair. You liked having your back scratched with a big comb! But of course there were times when I thought you were asleep, and I'd quietly tiptoe out ofthe room... thenyou made it clear that you definitely weren't asleep!” Eyen little people—who have only food, diapers, and hugs as their major concerns—can have trouble finding peace when it’s time to sleep, We not-so-little people have a much longer list of concerns that rob us of peace,In fact, Jesus promised us that we'd have a list! He was very straightforward; “Here on earth you will have many trials and sor- rows” (John 16:33 nut), This world hasn't disappointed, has it? Among the many external peace-robbers are children to raise, jobs to maintain, deadlines to meet, bills to pay, chores to do, friends to support. And each of us has internal peace-robbers like fear, bitter- ness, exhaustion, or scars from long ago. Jesus, however, did not just promise trials and sorrows, He also promised peace. Before His crucifixion, He told His disciples the troubling details "so that [they] may have peace” (y, 33 wit), Events would appear out of control, but they were part of God’s sovereign plan unfolding, When Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to His followers, He added, "] am leavingyou witha gift~peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give, So don'the troubled or afraid” John 14:27 Nut). Jesus wants us to know peace, to receive the gift of peace He has for us, to live with “peace of mind and heart.” Key to knowing Jesus peace is spending time in His Word, and I pray this little hook will help. Whether I start a devotional by sharing a brief story or some thoughts ona Bible passage, | always end with a handful of Scripture passages. Even just making time to read through those verses will