The Promise of Peace

“God, your wrap-around presence is my protection and defense. You bring victory to all who reach out for you.” Psalms 7:10

The month of December comes to an end, and as it does, I think of all of the things I didn't get to do this holiday season. No cookies were made, my Christmas tree lays bare, and I just mailed out my store-bought Christmas cards yesterday because I was too sick to make them by hand this year. If the criteria for the perfect Christmas were based on a Hallmark Christmas film, mine would definitely not measure up. And if i'm not careful, I could find my thoughts drifting toward "this has been the worst Christmas ever". But to do so would mean I have strayed far from the true meaning of "Christmas Spirit" and I would have to do some serious re-prioritizing. However, I still find myself doing a mandatory heart-check as I ponder what this Christmas season has taught me so far.

Just a week ago, I was sitting in a walk-in clinic filling out a spiritual-wellness questionnaire. The questions grew a little harder to answer as I found myself having to really ponder my responses and answer honestly. Questions like "do you have a source of joy in your life?" and "do you have a sense of peace today?" seemed simple upon first glance. And while I wanted to answer "yes" right away, the truth was that I didn't really have a sense of peace in that moment. I was terribly sick, and "The Nightmare Before Christmas" was playing in the waiting room just a week prior to Christmas. The irony of this did not escape me. My condition worsened with every passing second and I was looking for answers that the doctor from the night before could not answer. No, I did not have a sense of peace. I couldn't pray, I couldn't read, I could barely walk. I was missing work and spending money to find out what was wrong with me, and I was having a difficult time getting answers. But as I stared at those words on that paper, I forced myself to circle "yes." In that moment I reasoned "I may not feel peace right now, but I know that I have it." My lack of feeling peace didn’t mean that there was a lack of peace. I knew that it was there, even if it didn’t arrive announcing itself with trumpets blaring, or even if those trumpets were blaring and I just couldn’t hear them.

In this season I am reminded of the story of Jesus and the first Christmas. The gift of peace didn't present itself in decorative wrapping or a shiny bow. The gift of peace presented itself in the stillness of that night as our Savior lay in a manger. The promise, the hope, the fulfillment that the scriptures prophesied before that babe would come to lay before our eyes.

The promise of peace isn’t found in the wrapping of the season. It's not found in the lights, the music, or the ornaments on the tree. Sometimes the tree lays bare and the countdown stays stuck on 25 when Christmas is two days away. Sometimes the hot chocolate is swapped out for cough medicine and nutrition shakes because that’s all your stomach can keep down. My Christmas traditions looked quite different from those of previous years, and if you’re reading this, I’m expecting yours may have too. But the joy of the Christmas season isn’t found in how beautiful or put together our home is. It’s found in the stillness. It’s found in the nearness of Immanuel—God with us. The temporary joy promised by the commercialism of the holiday season is replaced by the eternal promise of God’s peace. Peace is the promise He keeps and He doesn’t intend to break it.

The peace that is promised this holiday season isn’t the kind that is always felt in an instant, but it is often the kind that must be chosen again and again. It is the kind of peace that requires intentionality. How can we be intentional about pursuing peace when peace seems so incredibly far away? This holiday season is an invitation to invite peace in. To speak peace when peace least feels near, and to dwell in the stillness that peace offers. In the middle of illness, in the last minute scurrying to get the gifts wrapped and dinner set on the table, we can take a moment to be still, and to prepare our hearts to receive the true message of Christmas:

"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

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

As you seek peace in this holiday season, I pray you'll be encouraged to dwell in God's presence and experience the peace that can only be found in Him.

With grace,

Celina