Daily Devotions with Chaplain Kenny for Tuesday, April 23, 2024: Echoes of Peace in Troubled Times

 

The Daily Devotional
Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Echoes of Peace in Troubled Times

I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace.
John 16:33a

Introduction

In the often cited words of Jesus in John 16:33, "I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have overcome the world." This passage offers profound comfort and a promise of peace amidst turmoil. On a chilly December night in 1862, amidst the brutal realities of the Civil War, a brief but poignant moment at Stones River, Tennessee, illustrated a miraculous glimpse of peace that transcends human conflict.

Reflection

On December 30, 1862, as the US Civil War fiercely continued, Union and Confederate troops, encamped just seven hundred yards apart across Tennessee’s Stones River, found an ephemeral unity through music amidst their ideological divides. Around their campfires, Union soldiers initiated the exchange with the lively strains of Yankee Doodle, met by the Confederate response of Dixie. The night reached a poignant climax when both sides came together to play Home, Sweet Home in unison, a profound testament to their shared longing for peace and the comforts of home, despite the harsh realities of war. This spontaneous musical truce, though fleeting as hostilities resumed the next day leading to devastating losses—24,645 soldiers died, highlighted the powerful human desire to connect and find common ground, even in times of great division.

In John 16:33, Jesus acknowledges the inevitability of trials and tribulations but assures us of a greater peace found in Him—a peace that overcomes the world. Like the soldiers at Stones River, we too are often entrenched in our own battles, whether they be personal, ideological, or spiritual. However, Jesus calls us to find peace in Him, amidst these conflicts.

Application

How can we apply this message of peace in our lives today? We live in a world marred by conflicts of various scales and intensities. Like the soldiers who found a common melody, we are challenged to seek moments of unity and peace in our everyday encounters. This might mean reaching out to someone with differing views, offering a listening ear, or sharing a moment of beauty and common humanity, as simple as a song, to bridge the gap between divided hearts.

Conclusion

The story of that December night serves as a poignant reminder of the peace that is possible when we look beyond our differences. Although the battle resumed at Stones River, the shared moment of music is a testament to the unifying power of peace—a peace that Jesus promises can be ours, despite the world’s chaos.

Prayer

Dear Lord, in the echoes of Home, Sweet Home played by those weary soldiers, we hear Your call to peace. Help us to remember that even in our darkest hours, Your peace is a beacon of hope. Teach us to seek and foster moments of unity as a reflection of Your love and peace, which surpasses all understanding. May we carry the melody of Your peace in our hearts, ready to share it even in times of great division. Amen.

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Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA
The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV)© 1989, 1993, the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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