Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Today's reading titled, Escape or Peace, was written by Adam Holes.

Escape.

The buildboard shouts the benefits of having a hot tub installed.

It gets my attention and gets me thinking.

My wife and I have talked about getting a hot tub someday. It'd be like a vacation in our backyard,

except for the cleaning and the electric bill and suddenly the hope for escape starts to sound

like something I might need escape from.

Still, that word entices so effectively because it promises something we want,

relief, comfort, security, escape.

It's something our culture tempts and teases us with in many ways.

Now, there's nothing wrong with resting or a getaway to someplace beautiful.

But there's a difference between escaping life's hardships and trusting God with them.

In John 16, Jesus tells his disciples that the next chapter of their lives will test their faith. In this world, you will have trouble, he summarizes at the end,

and then he adds this promise.

But take heart, I have overcome the world.

Jesus didn't want his disciples to cave into despair.

Instead, he invited them to trust him, to know the rest he provides.

I have told you these things, he said, so that in me you may have peace.

Jesus doesn't promise a pain-free life, but he does promise that as we trust and rest in him,

we can experience a peace that's deeper and more satisfying than

any escape the world tries to sell us.

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