There’s less than ten days until Christmas!
Does reading that stress you out? It’s about this time of the season that we all start to stress out just a little. With less than two weeks until Christmas, the stores are packed, shipping is slow, and, if let me guess, you’re still not done with all of your shopping.
On top of all that, there’s also everything else that is going on in the world. It just doesn’t seem like our world is at peace.
Thankfully, God has given us the promise that he will give us peace, even if everything around us says otherwise.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27
At the time of Jesus’ birth, the Roman empire was in an all out uproar. People were forced to return to the nation of their birth for a census, so everyone was traveling, trying to get home in time to be counted, including Joseph and a very pregnant Mary (Luke 2:1-5).
To make matters worse, the king at that time was a very wicked man. Herod the Great, as he liked to be called, would kill anyone he feared would try to take his place, even his own family members. After the visit from the wise men, who were on their way to visit Jesus, he put out an order that all baby boys under the age of two in Bethlehem should be killed (Matthew 2:16-18).
This was his crazy solution to stopping Jesus from stealing his throne. As a mom, I can’t even fathom what this must have been like. I just can’t even go there in my mind. It hurts too much to think of all the innocent, precious lives that were lost because of one evil man, and the heartache and grief that those parents had to endure.
Okay, I know this is pretty depressing, and you may be thinking it doesn’t belong in a Christmas advent post. But it’s actually a very important part of understanding the true meaning of Christmas.
You see, Jesus was born into the world during a time that was anything but peaceful. The “Prince of Peace” came to a broken world in order to bring us peace. He came into a disordered, chaotic world that wanted to kill Him.
“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:14
Since the day that Adam and Eve first sinned in the Garden of Eden, the world has been full of pain, death, heartache, sickness, and hardship. Wars and crimes and storms and diseases will continue to batter the earth and everyone in it.
Jesus came to save us and to bring us peace, but not the kind of peace that you might think. Though evil persists in the world, you can still have peace through Jesus Christ. Though the storms rage all around us, you can still have peace in spite of it all.
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
The peace that Jesus brings is an inner peace that can only be found when you devote your life to Him. It starts with turning your life away from the ways of the world and turning to God.
“They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.” 1 Peter 3:11
When you give your life to God, He comes into your heart and fills you up with His peace, which gives you the ability to endure all the situations that the world will throw at you.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
I, personally, cannot imagine a life without the peace of God. I don’t know how people that do not have God at the center of their life do it. How do they cope with this crazy, cruel world and all the trials and tribulations that come with it?
Friends, if you are out there in this world trying to do it on your own, I’m here to tell you, you’re doing it the hard way! Please trust me. Jesus came to the world to give us peace:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
I was blessed to have God by my side from a very young age. My parents started taking me to church when I was only a year old. I grasped on to the gospel, the good news, of Christ Jesus when I was young and have clung to it all the days of my life.
When I was six, I prayed and asked Jesus to come into my heart and be the Lord of my life. Since that day, God has always been by my side, and I’ve experienced the peace of God that goes beyond all understanding.
I pray that you too can experience God’s peace in your life. If you haven’t invited Jesus into your heart, then I encourage you to wait no more, and take that step today. He’s waiting for you to let Him into your life, and bring you a peace that can only come through Him:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20
If you have already taken that step, then I just encourage you to place your full trust in Him. Whatever it is that is keeping you from experience God’s peace, just give it to God, and let Him take the reins.
A precious, innocent child was born into the world over two thousand years ago, into a world that was just as chaotic as it is today. God sent His son to bring us peace because there was no other way. True peace can only be found in Him. It is because of the joy of His salvation, because of the hope of eternal life, that we can rest in Him and on His promises, and we can be assured that nothing in this world can take that from us. This is how we can have peace.
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Further Reading – Last Spring I put together a list of passages to reference when going through difficult times and we just need to be reminded of the peace that God gives us. Click here to read the article “12 Verses for Peace in Chaos”.
Also, I made some notecards that you can print out with some of my favorited verses that remind me of God’s peace: Click Here to Access! Password is: joyful
To follow the whole series of Journey to Christmas, click here: https://jenniferjabbour.com/the-journey-to-christmas-advent-series/
What do you think?