No Greater Gift

With my law school graduation only a few days away, I can’t help but reflect on this season as it comes to an end. I’m thrilled and can’t wait for the next chapter, but I also feel a sense of heaviness. I’ve walked through more hard things these past three years, law school being only one of them, than I have my whole life before that combined.

After a season of struggle, all I crave is peace — rest from the trials and the testing, stillness that settles after a great storm.

But that’s not true peace, is it? That’s ease, freedom from hardship. True peace can only come from Christ. It’s the result of knowing Him and trusting Him. It persists in spite of circumstances and in the middle of the storm. It’s the subtle confidence of knowing God is in control. This kind of peace will soothe the aching soul.

I often forget about His perfect peace, made available to me at the moment I first trusted Him for salvation. At the Cross, Jesus spilled His blood for me. He took my place, died the death I deserved, and paid the debt I owed. He endured unimaginable pain so that I might know God and walk with Him all my days, so that I might receive His perfect peace. Because of Jesus, I stand before God forgiven, healed, and redeemed. I have His Spirit living in me, sealing me with the promise of salvation and empowering me to walk in His ways.

I pray that I never get over it, just as I’ll never get over how He’s carried me through this season. I pray that the Lord draws my mind back to it daily, that He helps me dwell on His extravagant love and grace.

See, the greatest gift is not just His peace. It’s salvation, the gift of Himself. It’s forgiveness of sins and a right relationship with God. There is no greater gift than knowing my life is in the hands of a loving Father and that whatever He allows me to walk through is for my good and His glory.

. . .

“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in loving kindness to all who call upon You.” Psalm 86:5

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

“Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:23-26