Finding True Peace in Christ

Jeff and Jan Armstrong have been through an experience that many of us will never have to endure. They’ve walked through affliction and have come out the other side positive, joyful, and closer to the Lord than ever before. There is an undeniable light that radiates from Jeff and Jan’s smiles, and you can’t help but feel a sense of peace around them. Overflow was honored to meet with this loving couple and learn the source of their true peace.

The Blessing of Children

James 1:17 tells us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above…” (NIV). Jeff and Jan have been able to experience the precious gift of children through their son Harris and daughter Alison. Harris was promoted to glory and went home to be with the Lord on December 1, 2008, at almost 13 years of age. He battled a rare and aggressive form of cancer, called anaplastic astrocytoma, with peace and complete patience. One might think it would be too hard for Jeff and Jan to share their story, but Jeff said, “We love talking about Harris. He is alive and well [in Heaven] and in fact more perfect than we are.” The Armstrongs don’t dwell on the fact that Harris isn’t physically with them anymore, rather they rejoice that he is already experiencing God’s Kingdom. Jeff said there is joy in knowing that “the world never had a chance to tear away [Harris’ love for Jesus]. [It’s] peaceful and powerful to know that he enjoyed that relationship and now he enjoys it eternally in person.”

Harris was an active young man and enjoyed all kinds of competitive sports, but found a special passion for golf. Jeff explained that when Harris was 11 years old he was interviewed on the Golf Channel. He was asked to describe himself in one word and he said, “Compassionate.” That one word so profoundly revealed Harris’ heart. Jeff said, “God is love, mercy, and grace … and it rolls up into being compassionate.” Harris exhibited Christ-like characteristics on and off the course and impacted those around him. The Armstrongs explained that Harris believed in living each day for Jesus, and Harris revealed his walk through his actions and attitude. Jeff and Jan said it was a very humbling and powerful thing for them to witness in their child. They saw with their own eyes Harris’ spiritual strength and the peace he had about where he was headed. Jeff said, “Harris’ competitive spirit was fulfilled in that he got to win the race and get the ultimate prize before us.”

Alison has similar traits to those Harris demonstrated such as the God-given ability to excel in the game of golf and a no fear attitude when playing the game. “It reminds me of child-like faith,” Jeff said. Golf Pros came to watch Harris play and now they come to watch Alison; it reminds them of when they were young players, just trusting their instincts. Alison is competitive like Harris was, and shows great sportsmanship. “The other junior players like being with her and enjoy her fellowship like they enjoyed Harris’. I think she makes the same impact with her peers that we know Harris did with his peers,” Jeff commented.

God is Our Strength

It’s clear that Jeff and Jan’s children were impacted by Christ at an early age. “Harris knew the Lord,” Jeff said, which was a blessing for them. “We knew he would be alive [in Heaven],” Jan said. “It was a difficult situation, but we relied on God every day.” The Armstrongs continued to lean on God for strength during this time and shared that the Lord walked them through it all. They made it clear that the peace they had was a gift from the Holy Spirit. They recognized that only the Word and God Himself could comfort them. John 16:33 was one such Scripture that soothed their hearts: “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jan shared that she wants Alison to understand that “if we lean on Him and let Him be our strength, He can take us through anything we encounter because He has already overcome it all. These are only our temporary troubles.”

During these times, the couple realized that they couldn’t look to each other to meet their needs. “Jeff and I had to seek God on our own and then together at the same time.” As they individually grew closer to the Lord, they grew closer to each other. Their godly marriage was strengthened in a time when many marriages could have fallen apart. Jeff and Jan kept their eyes on the Lord when they felt weak, for they knew that God’s grace and power would get them through it (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The Armstrongs’ faith has grown as they rest in God’s strength. They view the things of God in a different light today. Jan talked about always having a love for Jesus but said, “I don’t think I really understood the impact of Jesus’ huge significance.” She shared that the reality of Jesus’ intense love for us and the fact that He is the only way, “the bridge,” to our Father God, truly changed what Jesus meant to her. “He did all of that (His death and Resurrection) so we could all be together for eternity; He has made a way. He told us He has overcome the world and that all of these things that have happened are just for a brief time, and then we will all get to be together again,” Jan said.

Christ in a Secular World

Jesus has changed some things in Jeff’s life as well in the recent years. He spoke of Philippians 1:21 where Paul says, “to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (NIV). A few years ago, Jeff didn’t see himself as one who would have completely embraced this Scripture. He loved Jesus before, but now he acknowledges that he has been transformed. Jeff wants to live each day exclusively for Jesus Christ and demonstrate Christ-like character in everything he does. When Harris went home to be with the Lord, the Armstrongs had two choices: drift away from God or grow closer to Him. They chose the latter, and their desire to know God intensified their worship of Him. Jeff also spoke of “a sense of urgency” that they developed for Christ. He never saw himself as an evangelist and thought that kind of hunger or thirst for the things of God “was more reserved for pastors and church leaders, and not followers.” However, he came to realize that all of God’s people are called to be “fishers of men.”

Jeff, who is currently Vice President of the Bank of Tampa, got involved with Focus on the Family’s The Truth Project, which is a DVD-based group study of 13 one-hour lessons. “Each lesson discusses in great detail the relevance and importance of living the Christian worldview in daily life” (www.thetruthproject.org). The lessons cover subjects such as philosophy, ethics, anthropology, theology, science, history, and sociology, among others. Jeff has gone through the curriculum at least six times and said he has led several groups through the study, “twice at the Bank of Tampa and twice at a client’s office. To have that entering the workplace is not something I would have thought [of doing] a few years ago.” Those who work in a secular business place can relate to the fact that Christians have to be sensitive in sharing their faith with others. So how does he invite a bunch of “suits” to a Bible study? “I tell people straight up what we are doing and there might be something [a particular subject] that they have more of an interest in than another,” Jeff explained. He went on to say that The Truth Project brings together people from all walks of life in a very non-denominational atmosphere.

When asked how he portrays his faith in the business place, Jeff’s answer was not surprising. The loving, compassionate, and respectful impression he exudes was affirmed in his response: “It’s more about how we’re being with people.” He went on to explain that he prefers to stay focused on being a person that glorifies God, “Maybe not with my words, but by my responses and by my tone and behavior.” The common saying, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary, use words,” holds true for Jeff. As Jeff pointed out, walking out his faith in daily life is key in the business world because nonbelievers are watching you. It’s not always about what you say – a believer’s behavior is a direct reflection of God. He is also involved with the Christian Business Leadership Connection group, which encourages business leaders to be mindful that God is with them in their everyday walk. Their “hope is to bridge the gap between the faith lessons learned Sunday morning and the faith walk that awaits them on Monday morning” (Christian Business Leadership Connection). Jeff purposes to carry Jesus with him everywhere he goes, including the workplace.

The Impact of Jesus

Jesus has greatly impacted the Armstrong family over the last few years in so many ways. They saw God move mightily in their lives at a time when they needed Him most. Jan shared, “I wake up every morning and ask God what He wants me to do because we have divine appointments.” She went on to say that she realized if we try to plan out our steps too much, we may miss what God has in store for us. Jan learned to let God take her through each day and to continually rely on Him to provide everything their family needs. Jeff spoke about the importance of keeping Christ at the center of their lives “and not just [as] a check mark.” Jeff continued, “[I] start the day slowly centered on Him in prayer and devotion and really in every thought of the day.”

The Armstrongs’ walk with God has really been about allowing Him to lead them, as opposed to only incorporating the Lord into planned out portions of the day. Jeff explained that Wally Armstrong, a dear friend of the family (no relation), put it to him like this: “[People] treat God like a compartment on a TV dinner tray and [they’ve] got God in His place…. [We] need to treat God as gravy in a chicken pot pie. He needs to be flowing and running over everything.” Jeff was led to get involved with Mulligan Life Ministries, which is based on the book “The Mulligan: A Parable of Second Chances” (coauthored by Wally) and the Mulligan Golf Club (www.mulligangolfclub.com). He sits on the board of the ministry that “exists as a resource to highlight God’s activity in the world through the game of golf. The MGC [Mulligan Golf Club] was developed by a network of friends who want to serve individuals, groups, and churches that are using golf as a platform for the mission of God” (www.facebook.com/MulliganGolfClub).

The effect of God’s love and peace in their hearts has been far-reaching in the Armstrongs’ daily lives as they continue to seek His direction. They have reached out to the community by helping various homeless ministries and utilizing their relationships with others to help support nonprofits and ministries. Jeff said, “Helping to put people together is a gift that God has blessed us with and a calling.” They enjoy connecting people with worthy causes that will impact the Kingdom of God. Perhaps even more importantly, Jeff shared, “I think our heart, at this point, has been to immerse ourselves in fellowship whether it be through Bible study, church, or different fellowship groups.”

God has given the Armstrong family an overwhelming joy to live out their calling. They have patiently persevered through the challenges this world brings and rest in the fact that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). Jeff and Jan are faithful in prayer and boldly keep Jesus Christ at the center of their lives. Because of Jesus, they will have the opportunity to reunite with Harris in eternity…and for that they will forever be grateful. Jeff, Jan, and Alison’s true peace comes from our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!