Peace of Mind

This morning, my thoughts turned to the giver of peace. Do you know someone who is or has been in a state of torment? Perhaps yourself? Unable to be still? Full of fear and anxiety? In such a state of addiction, believing there is no way out? No hope? No future? Often I would see these people in Psychiatric wards at the hospital, or on the streets, or in other places. Jesus saw them too. He still does. "He saw me, ruined in the fall, yet loved me not withstanding all; He saved me from my lost estate, His loving-kindness, oh, how great!" (Awake, My Soul, to Joyful Lays by Samuel Medley) The following story is about an encounter Jesus had with such a soul, taken from Mark Chapter 5:1-20 May it bring you hope and peace this day!

Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”

For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” Then He asked him, “What is your name?”

And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.

Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.

So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

Whatever your need today dear friend, cry out to the One who can give peace! Jesus said, "The thief (Satan, God's enemy) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they (you and I) may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) And when you know His peace, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."