Bumper Sticker Faith pt. 1 Devotional
Day 1: Two Kinds of Peace
Devotional
Have you ever noticed how quickly peace can vanish? One moment everything feels right with the world, and the next—a phone call, a news alert, an unexpected bill—and that sense of calm evaporates like morning dew. This is the peace the world offers: conditional, temporary, and dependent on favorable circumstances. But there's another kind of peace—the kind Jesus speaks about. It's not based on everything going perfectly. It doesn't require control or guarantees. It remains even when questions outnumber answers. Jesus makes a distinction that changes everything: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives." He's offering something fundamentally different—not peace that depends on our surroundings but peace that transforms how we experience them. The world's peace says, "Once everything is fixed, then you'll feel better." Jesus' peace says, "Even while things are broken, I am with you." This week, we'll explore this divine peace that doesn't deny reality but equips us to face it. A peace that isn't just a fleeting emotion but a profound promise of God's presence. A peace that allows us to say, "I have questions, but I also have peace."
Bible Verse
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." - John 14:27
Reflection Question
Think about a recent situation where you lost your sense of peace. What was the source of that peace, and what made it so fragile?
Quote
We know that there is a difference between the peace that the world is trying to sell us and give us and the peace that Jesus is talking about.
Prayer
Lord, help me recognize the difference between the temporary peace the world offers and the lasting peace You provide. When I'm tempted to seek peace in perfect circumstances, remind me that Your peace transcends all understanding. Amen.
Day 2: Peace as a Decision
Devotional
Some days, peace feels natural—like floating on calm waters. Other days, it's a choice we make despite the storm raging around us. Peace isn't always a serene feeling that washes over us. Sometimes it's a deliberate decision to trust God when everything within us wants to panic. It's choosing to remember God's faithfulness when our circumstances scream uncertainty. This is the kind of peace Jesus offers—not an escape from life's difficulties but a different way to move through them. His peace doesn't rely on everything going right. It's rooted in His unchanging presence, faithful and abiding even when our world is shaking. When Jesus says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled," He isn't dismissing our feelings. He's reminding us that while we will experience pain, we don't have to face it alone. He holds us as we feel. He steadies us when life spins out of control. Today, whatever you're facing, remember that peace can be your choice even before it becomes your feeling. You can decide to anchor yourself to God's promises rather than your circumstances. You can choose to say, "I don't have peace from this situation, but I have peace in it."
Bible Verse
"Jesus answered him, 'Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.'" - John 14:23
Reflection Question
What situation in your life right now requires you to choose peace rather than simply feel it? What would it look like to make that choice today?
Quote
Peace is not always a feeling. Sometimes, especially for us Christians, it's a decision. It's something that we would rather cling to, not something that we would much rather coast through.
Prayer
Father, when peace feels distant, help me choose to trust You anyway. When I can't change my circumstances, change my perspective. Remind me that Your presence is constant, even when my feelings fluctuate. Amen.
Day 3: The Spirit's Comfort in Uncertainty
Devotional
We all face moments when words fail us; when pain, confusion, or grief leave us speechless. What do we pray when the diagnosis is terminal? How do we find words when tragedy strikes without warning? In these moments of deepest need, God hasn't left us alone. The Holy Spirit—our Advocate, Comforter, and Guide; intercedes for us "with groanings too deep for words" (Romans 8:26). When we don't know what to say, the Spirit translates our wordless sighs into perfect prayers. This is part of the peace Jesus promised; not that we would always understand, but that we would never be abandoned. Not clarity in every situation, but divine company through each one. The Spirit doesn't just pray for us; He also teaches and reminds. Sometimes what we need isn't new information but a holy reminder of truths we already know but struggle to recall in difficult moments: God is good. God is present. God is working. When uncertainty looms and questions multiply, the Spirit's presence becomes our peace. Not because all our questions are answered, but because the One who holds the answers holds us too. This is peace that stays when everything else seems to be falling apart.
Bible Verse
"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you." - John 14:26
Reflection Question
When have you experienced the Holy Spirit's comfort during a time when you didn't know how to pray? How did God's presence change your experience of that difficult situation?
Quote
When tragedy strikes, we often don't know what to pray. And friends, that's okay. Romans tells us that the Spirit intercedes with groanings, too deep words in moments of crisis.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, thank You for interceding when I have no words. Thank You for reminding me of God's truth when my mind is clouded by worry. Help me recognize Your presence today, especially in moments of uncertainty. Amen.
Day 4: Peace Within the Storm
Devotional
We often pray for God to calm our storms—to fix our problems, heal our illnesses, restore our relationships. And sometimes, mercifully, He does. But other times, the storm continues to rage, and we discover something profound: peace doesn't always come from the absence of storms but from the presence of God within them. Jesus never promised His followers a trouble-free life. In fact, He guaranteed the opposite: "In this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33). What He did promise was His abiding presence and a peace that transcends understanding. This is a peace that doesn't deny reality—it steps into it. It doesn't gloss over pain with platitudes—it steadies us when everything feels like it's spinning out of control. It doesn't require the storm to stop—it holds steady within the storm. When Jesus calmed the sea in Mark 4, the disciples were amazed. But perhaps the greater miracle is when He enables us to remain calm while the waves still crash around us. This is the peace He offers—not from avoidance of suffering, but victory over it. Today, whatever storm you're facing, remember that Christ is in the boat with you. His peace doesn't depend on perfect weather; it depends on His perfect presence.
Bible Verse
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." - John 14:27
Reflection Question
What storm are you currently experiencing where you need to feel God's peace within it rather than waiting for it to pass? How might your perspective change if you focused on His presence rather than your circumstances?
Quote
His peace doesn't rely on everything going right. His peace is rooted in the presence of God. Unshakable, faithful, abiding. His peace doesn't require the storm to stop. It holds steady within the storm.
Prayer
Lord of the storm, I confess I often wait for my circumstances to improve before I feel peace. Help me find Your peace in the midst of my struggles. Thank You that You never leave me alone in the storm. Amen.
Day 5: Peace That Remains
Devotional
As we conclude our week exploring Christ's peace, let's remember that this peace isn't just a historical gift; it's an ongoing reality. Just as Jesus continues to break bread with us in communion, He continues to offer His peace in our daily lives. This peace remains when everything else seems to be falling apart. It stays because Christ stays. It endures because His love endures. It holds us because He holds us. When Jesus says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid," He's not dismissing our feelings but reminding us of His presence. He's saying, "Though you'll feel pain, let me hold you while you feel it." He's offering not an escape from reality but a companion through it. As you move forward from this devotional, carry this truth with you: Peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Christ. It's not a feeling that comes and goes but a promise that remains. It's not dependent on your circumstances but on God's character. May you walk in this peace today; not the fragile kind that falters with headlines or hardships, but the kind that stays because Christ stays. And may that peace be enough to carry you forward with courage and grace, even when questions remain.
Bible Verse
"Therefore the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure." - John 3:34
Reflection Question
How has your understanding of peace changed through this week's devotionals? What situation in your life needs the reminder that Christ's peace remains even when circumstances don't improve?
Quote
Peace. It's not a feeling. It is a promise. Not the fragile kind that falters with headlines or hardships, but the kind that stays because Christ stays.
Prayer
Christ of calm and chaos, thank You that You never promised life would be easy, but You did promise You would never leave me alone. Help me to rest in Your peace today—not a peace that depends on perfect circumstances but on Your perfect love. Amen.