Peace

There are so many names of Christ in scripture! The one that means the most to me right now during this Advent season is The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Everywhere around me I am seeing an absence of peace. I see stressed mothers and fathers worrying about their children and frantically trying to give them the “best” experiences and education. I see stressed teenagers who are crushed by a friend’s careless and thoughtless actions. I see stressed grand parents fretting over health issues and financial insecurities. And saddest of all to me are the stressed elementary age kiddos who are trying so hard to please everyone and earn their praise.

This is not the life Christ wants for us. He came as the Prince of Peace, not a little lamb of peace or snowflake of peace, but a Prince of Peace. There is power in being a prince. His peace has the power to squelch anxiety and stress – pretty powerful anti-anxiety medication.

One of the last words of Jesus to his disciples were… “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 hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

That is a powerful statement. Jesus came on this earth to bring this special peace - a spiritual peace, a supernatural peace that has the power to transform our thinking and our lives. It has the power to take away our fears if we claim it and learn how to rest in it. When we truly understand who God is and His nature, we can relax and have His perfect peace in the midst of the challenges of this life. When we lose a job, get a difficult medical report, enter a rocky time in our marriage – we can maintain a peaceful spirit as we rest in the knowledge that God is in control and rest in the confidence that He is our good, good father.

My prayer for you this Christmas season is that you take a firm hold of this gift of peace that the Prince of Peace is offering and you share it with your families.

Peace be with you,
 
Susan Truman
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