Luke 7:50 – And Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (NLT)

Regardless of how taxing my dilemmas are, I can always refocus when I view the mountains up close and in person.

Every motel in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, USA, has riverfront rooms, since a river runs parallel to the main street. The room that our family stayed in on one occasion wasn't extraordinary, yet it was. A screen door shielded the back door, and the temperature was cool enough for us to open the back door and listen to the roaring creek. This we topped off by sitting on the cozy porch and enjoying the sounds and views. The following day, I took my computer to the porch and sat on one of the wooden rockers while I penned my morning devotion. I found peace. Trouble was, though, I couldn't stay there.

The sinful woman at a religious snob's party in today's Scripture couldn't remain in her location either, but she found a peace that she could carry away with her.

Luke 7:37-38 – When a certain immoral woman from that city heard [Jesus] was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. (NLT)

Luke doesn't tell us that she asked for forgiveness — she didn't have to. Her actions showed that she wanted it, and Jesus granted it. She could leave in peace.

Although I can find a form of peace in the mountains, I can't discover ultimate peace there — unless it happens to be where I meet Jesus. Meeting Him is the key for peace. Only as we do what the sinful woman did can we find peace that won't fluctuate with life's situations. She recognized her sinfulness and went to the person Who could solve her problem and soothe her soul. The peace that Jesus offered was connected to the forgiveness that she desired.

Knowing that all our sins were taken care of at the cross allows us to live in a state of continual peace — regardless of our circumstances. We don't have to worry about judgment or condemnation. Jesus took that on our behalf. What the Father placed on Him, He won't judge us for, nor will He allow us to endure more than we can handle, with the help of His power.

Let all of us find our peace in Christ and in nothing else.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the peace that comes from knowing that You accept, forgive, and love us. Amen.