PEACE- Advent Week 4

Advent Week 4
PEACE

Peace. We all want it. We all long for peace of mind, peace in our homes, our relationships, our job, our finances, our children’s lives. Peace is something that, at times, I think we think we can muster. Enough self care will do the trick. If I were more organized I could have more peace. Decluttering would bring my home much needed peace! A new self help book will give me the tips and steps to have more peace.

One of the biggest idols in my life is routine. I know, routine is so helpful, it can be the backbone to many families and I tend to thrive in it so much that I can start to rely on it for my peace, my help, my everything. As long as I have routine, I can eat well, exercise, kids will have things done, bedtimes are in check, etc. Routine is not the bringer or creator of peace. As much as we think these things give us peace, these things can be used as tools to peace, but we can have ultimate peace in the middle of absolute chaos.

Can you think of a time when you were just overwhelmed with chaos? Things weren’t going the way you had hoped, perhaps a heaviness of heart was just weighing you down, people had hurt you, someone you love was sick, the circumstances were far from ideal. I remember in 2012 I was staying in Ft. Worth at the hospital with our son. Nick, our eldest daughter, my sister and parents all came down and we stuffed ourselves in my little Ronald McDonald House room for the week and ended up having the BEST Christmas. My circumstances were SO hard. I was struggling to feel God’s peace when my child was gravely ill, my daughter’s 2nd Christmas was a mess, we weren’t at home, we didn’t get to do all the traditions I love, we missed out on services at church and everything was foreign. In the middle of all of that tension, I remember having such a peace that what mattered most was that Christ had come and whatever the future held, it would be ok.

I can imagine, as we read in Luke 2:8-20 that as Mary and Joseph had the baby, they sat in the midst of a stable and even though the circumstances weren’t ideal, they had a peace they couldn’t even comprehend. As the angel declared to the shepherds the good news that Christ had come, a peace surrounded them after the initial terror wore off haha! They were the first ones to know about Christ’s arrival. To be taken off guard by an army of heavenly hosts doesn’t sound peaceful, but the announcement of Christ’s birth brought a peace to all people, especially those who followed  God and believed He would do what He said He would do and supply a Messiah. What an amazing experience that must have been.

Pastor Brandon preached this weekend on peace and where true and lasting peace comes from. The fact that Jesus Christ, who was fully God, came to earth fully human then died and was raised from the dead is the only way we can have lasting peace. Outside of that there is no peace.

What is causing you anxiety, depression or grief this season? What is robbing you of the peace that you so desire?

Perhaps recent loss is weighing you down. The loss of a loved one can be a devastating time and the most jolly time of the year suddenly becomes the most sad. I imagine that some of you are struggling financially due to many circumstances of this year. This season seems sad and empty. Relationships endure hardship and discord, sometimes they don’t end in reconciliation, they end in separation or divorce. This can take a toll on the human heart and disrupt peace, to say the least.

I must implore you to remember where your peace comes from. Peace is available to you through Jesus Christ. This exact moment. Right now, you can have everlasting and eternal peace. Will you let Christ be your peace?

Let us remember that no matter our circumstances this season, our peace comes from Christ. We can rest assured that He will never leave or forsake us. He has come and has left us with a peace that only He can give!

Blessings to you all this Christmas!
Shaina