On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
John 20:19-23
During 2026, Peachtree Church is inviting everyone into Cultivate, a churchwide discipleship plan centered on the fruit of the Spirit and the kind of life God longs to grow in us. Throughout the year, we’ll explore how love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control take shape in everyday life through the Spirit’s work. Cultivate brings together worship, Scripture, group guides, and meaningful practices designed to meet you where you are and support growth in ways that fit your season. These twice-weekly devotionals are one way to stay connected, offering reflection and grounding for daily life with God. Whether you engage in many ways or just one, you’re invited to be part of this shared journey of becoming more rooted in who God has created and called you to be.
Devotional
The doors were locked.
The disciples were gathered together, not in celebration, but in fear. Everything had unraveled. The one they had followed, trusted, and believed in had been crucified. And now, even with rumors of resurrection, uncertainty filled the room.
Into that space, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
He doesn’t knock. He doesn’t wait for them to get their courage together. He simply enters and offers peace.
It’s worth noticing what Jesus doesn’t say. He doesn’t begin with correction or disappointment. He doesn’t ask why they were hiding. Instead, he meets them right where they are and offers peace.
And then he shows them his hands and his side. The wounds are still there, but they are no longer signs of defeat. They are reminders that what once brought fear has now been redeemed.
Jesus says again, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And then he breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
The peace Jesus gives is not fragile. Nor is it dependent on circumstances. It is rooted in his presence and sustained by his Spirit, given freely to all who put their faith in him.
We all know what it’s like to live behind high walls. If not physically, then internally. We carry anxieties about the future. We replay conversations and guard ourselves against disappointment.
And yet, Jesus still comes.
He steps into our fear, our uncertainty, even our doubt, and says, “Peace be with you!”
The invitation for us is not to manufacture peace, but to receive it. And as we receive it, we begin to carry it. Into our homes, our work, and into relationships and spaces where tension and uncertainty often live.
Peace becomes not just something we long for, but something we bring. A gift extended from Jesus to the community around us. Can you imagine?
Jesus is still inviting you into that peace. Especially this week. We get to worship the Savior who dies for us, rescues us, then gifts us with eternal peace.
Peace be with you this week and forevermore.
For Reflection
- Where do you feel fear or uncertainty right now?
- What would it look like to receive Jesus’ peace in that place instead of trying to control it?
- How might God be inviting you to bring peace into the spaces you inhabit this week? What would your community look like if you showed up peaceful instead of anxious?
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You meet us right where we are, even behind our walls. Thank you for offering us your peace, not because our circumstances are easy, but because you are present. Help us to receive that peace today. And as we do, form us into people who carry your peace into the world around us.
Amen.
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Devotionals