More than Words: PEACE!

Peace is a difficult concept to grasp when fear and worry, anxiety and chaos are so handy. It is much easier to fret over something than to trust that God is in the midst of the storm. Anxiety is often the norm, at least for me, in almost all areas of life –peace would be so much better, yet it feels so unattainable.

When we are in that fretful state we are in good company. Those who knew Jesus best, traveled with him, lived with him, broke bread with him, heard his teachings first hand for three years didn’t get it either. They, too, never quite grasped everything the first time, or the second or the third, or even the hundredth time.

Even as Jesus was drawing closer to his final days and his teaching was exclusive to the disciples, they still did not understand the depths of his message. Jesus explained to them what was going to take place in the days and weeks to come. There, in all the chaos that lay ahead, Jesus offered these words of peace…

“I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.” (John 14:27, The Message)

That is peace, more than just a word, it is an overwhelming reassurance that when the storms rage – because they will – we are not left alone, we are not abandoned, we don’t have to ride the storm in isolation… Jesus is with us…peace overwhelms us.

Longing for Peace – to be peaceful…is to hold on to a peace that passes all understanding. Peace is a calmness…that overwhelms us when the world around us is chaos. Peace, true peace, comes when we trust in the One who is unshakable, the One who has conquered the world.

Peace in Advent is a pause. (Big breath in…slowly let it out. Repeat) Don’t let your to-do list steal your peace.  Don’t let the chaos win.  Peace in Advent is letting the calm of Christ wash over you.

A prayer for us today: Lord, as we continue further into this season of Advent may we be filled with the wonder of Advent and all that it holds. May we seek peace when the storms rage around us. May we be covered with Your peace as we anticipate the coming of the Christ Child. May we emanate peace throughout this season and into the year ahead. May we abide in peace and hope with every breath we breathe. Amen.

Advent Blessings,
Pastor Jenni

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. John 14:27