“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6
Merry Christmas!
I hope you are enjoying this most blessed holiday. I hope Christmas Day is full of delicious food, time with beloved family, and praise to God who gives so many things in which to delight. I also hope you are experiencing the peace of Christ this Christmas.
Peace can be a hard thing to come by. Our world is certainly not at peace. Daily news emphasizes trouble and chaos.
Yet we all experience moments of peace throughout our lives. We witness glorious spectacles such as sunrises, sunsets, or even our children taking their first steps. In those brief moments, the world stops and we feel a sense of well-being that fills our souls. Yet just as quickly, that feeling fades. The sun rises and it is time to head off to work. Our children walk, fall, and subsequently cry. The momentary peace is broken. We chase a lasting rest we can’t secure and a happiness we cannot seem to hold long term. The peace of this world is fleeting, yet we all attempt to acquire it by eating, drinking, succeeding, and pursuing relationship after relationship.
To paraphrase C.S. Lewis, the only reason non-believers experience any peace at all is because God allows it. Every calm moment we enjoy and every sense of stability we feel is by God’s grace alone. This world is sustained by God’s sovereign kindness.
But circumstantial peace is fragile. It depends on many things that can easily be taken away. Money, health and comfort are all temporary. Personal satisfaction fades when we achieve what we want or lose what we have.
Jesus tells us that he alone is the true source of peace. In John 14:27, he tells us about the peace he gives to us: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
Authentic peace is found in Jesus Christ alone. As I “mature” (i.e. age), I find that it is not the absence of trouble that provides peace – though I prefer trouble to stay away. It is the presence of Christ that gives us peace in circumstances that otherwise seem unbearable.
That doesn’t mean trials are not painful. Watching my father’s health decline makes me feel heartsick. Walking through this past year with our son who has gone from one health challenge to another has been agonizing. Jesus isn’t an anesthesia for pain, but he provides the sustaining grace we need to endure and keep moving forward. He provides a peace that satisfies our souls in ways the world never can.
Eternal peace involves being reconciled to God. Christ came to provide the way back to God for sinners. Through his perfect life, sacrificial death on the cross, and resurrection Jesus has provided the way to have restored fellowship with God if we repent of our sins and trust in Him to forgive us.
“Hark! the herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn King; peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled,’”runs the beloved Christmas carol. The angels certainly weren’t singing about a temporary peace that ebbs and flows as circumstances shift. They sang about the peace that comes from the redemption that only the Son of God could provide.
So, as we head into the new year, if you find yourself in a long, drawn out, stormy season of life, don’t despair. Seek the Lord that you might experience a genuine peace amid turmoil – the kind of peace the world doesn’t offer and cannot steal. Jesus longs to give us peace with God, peace despite our difficult circumstances, and peace that transcends our human understanding.
We humans crave peace. We search for it in all the wrong places while God has provided it for us in his beloved son, Jesus – the Prince of Peace.
Kristin Landers is a substitute teacher and freelance writer. Landers’ previous work includes serving as Communications Director for the Alabama Policy Institute and working for Citizens Against a Legalized Lottery (CALL) to defeat legalized gambling in the state of Alabama.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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