True Peace

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 conquered the world!   (John 16:33)
 
There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would create a painting that best demonstrated peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the paintings, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them.
 
One painting was of a beautiful and calm lake scene. The lake was a mirror reflecting the towering snowcapped mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. Most who saw this painting thought that it was the perfect picture of peace.
 
The other painting had mountains too. But, these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell and lightning danced. Down the side of one mountain, tumbled a turbulent waterfall. When the King looked, he saw that behind the waterfall grew a tiny bush from a crack in the rock. Within the bush a bird had built a nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird in her nest. The King chose this picture as the one best demonstrating peace.
 
People grumbled at the King’s choice. The king responded to the people saying that he chose the second picture because peace did not mean being in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. The King explained that true peace meant to be in the midst of all those things and yet still be calm in heart.
 
[Jim Liebelt, HomeWord Devotional www.homeword.com]