Go Into Peace

At the age of fifteen, Kenneth, a young man bedridden due to an incurable blood disease, made a profound decision to invite Jesus into his life. He had been paralyzed for over a year; worry and fear had claimed his heart. He’d been told that he had no chance of living, that healing had died with the Apostles, and God probably didn’t want him well or he would have already healed him. God began to deal with the worry and fear in Kenneth’s life. Several months after being saved, he heard a still small voice telling him he must stay in the Word of God. Kenneth began sowing Mark 11:23-24 into his heart until he came to believe, that even though he was about to die, this mountain of sickness in his life could be cast out. One night he began speaking these verses and felt the Holy Spirit encouraging him to give praise to God for his healing. And as he praised the Lord, God healed him completely from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. 

When he first got saved, God didn’t immediately reveal anything about healing to Kenneth. God first started dealing with the sin of worry in his life. If Kenneth had received healing without God taking care of his worry, he wouldn’t have been able to hold on to his healing. So God dealt with the sin of worry first. Then Kenneth was able to receive healing and not lose it.

God not only wants us to receive what belongs to us, but for us not to lose it. The enemy is constantly trying to steal everything God has blessed us with. It’s up to us to hold fast. This is what Jesus was declaring to the woman with the issue of blood when he said, “Go into peace and he continually healed.” He’s revealing that peace should be the flow of our everyday life—that healing power flows in peace. But worry and fear will close the door to the power of God. 

Jesus has redeemed us from fear, worry, and the shame of our past. He doesn’t want us to worry because sowing worry and fear will rob us of our peace, joy, and healing. The truth is the perfect love of Jesus casts out fear (1 John 4:18).

Maybe you think worrying about something or others is your responsibility. My mother did. Please realize that not being worried doesn’t mean you’re being irresponsible. Not worrying just means you’re refusing to carry the weight of that concern. You are giving it to Jesus.

The Word tells us to cast our burden on the Lord; He will sustain us (Psalm 55:22). Synonyms for sustain are: bear, support, carry, and stand. Jesus tells us to give our burdens to Him (Matthew 11:28-30). He will carry their crushing weight and support us. He will keep us from falling.

Hundreds of years ago before modern conveyance, when someone had a big, heavy burden, there was an animal to carry it. They would heave that heavy burden onto the back of an animal. The weight didn’t disappear. It was just transferred to the animal. If they had tried to carry that heavy load, it would have crushed them. That’s what worry does; it crushes us.

Jesus tells us to transfer our worries onto his shoulders. It doesn’t mean the problem goes away. You’ve just moved the burden and its weight from your shoulders to His. Jesus literally became our “beast of burden” when He carried the weight of our sins to the cross. If we will give him the weight of our worry and fear, we’ll become free of their crushing weight. 

When Jesus tells the woman in Mark 5:34 to “Go into peace,” He is literally telling her that this must be her lifestyle. You must control what you think about and cast your care upon the Lord.

In Peter 5:7, the AMPC says, “Casting the [whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, [once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”

This is “going into peace.” Cast all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns once and for all on Him. Jesus wants to fix your problem. He wants to heal you. He wants to take care of you. He cares for your affectionately, watchfully, and carefully. But He can only fix what you heave onto His shoulders. 

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV).

Kenneth cast his worry upon the Lord. Peace came, guarding his heart and mind. And with peace, the Word manifested itself in his life. Healing came. 

Lord Jesus, I seek your Word to manifest in me. I will sow your Word in my heart until it bears your promised fruit in my life. I cast all my worry, concern, and fear upon you. I guard my mind from any lie of the enemy and my heart from any unbelief. I go into you, Jesus. I go into peace. I abide in you today, tomorrow, and forever. Now abide in me. You are my peace and healing. I will continually receive your Word. I will remain in you. This is my prayer, Jesus. I wish only to fulfill what you have asked of me. Give me clarity. Help me not to walk in front of you or lag behind you. I walk in fellowship with you, trusting in you and you alone. Help me to freely give what you have freely given me.

In your name I pray.  Amen.