Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14 v 27
What does the word Peace mean to you?
Is it the absence of noise or chaos?
I remember a book we used to read to our children when they were young, about a father bear who couldn’t sleep and went all over the house and garden to try and find a quiet peaceful place to sleep. It was called, Peace at Last. We sometimes say that now after the grandchildren have been to stay!
We are into Advent now, the shops and supermarkets are getting busier, we hear Christmas songs playing constantly, everywhere seems to be getting louder and more chaotic.
Or does peace mean the absence of war?
Unfortunately, we can’t get away from the news from around the world. We have the ongoing terrible war in Ukraine and now this is being overshadowed by the conflict in the Middle East, Israel, and Hamas.
Or does peace mean the absence of inner turmoil?
How do we deal with change and uncertainty? How do we cope with our fears and anxieties? All of our problems can seem magnified as we approach Christmas as we strive to try and please everyone or try and make things unrealistically perfect. Do we crave peace of mind?
All are correct definitions of peace or lack thereof.
Today, in this run up to Christmas, let us think about peace, not so much as the lack of noise and chaos, or the absence of war, but as the presence of God in the middle of all things that trouble us.
What did Jesus mean when he said, my peace I leave with you? He was talking to his friends just before his death, he knew they would be scattered, afraid, bereaved and persecuted. He knew they would need help and support.
A Hebrew word for peace is shalom. This carries a sense of wholeness and wellbeing in all areas of our lives and this sense of wholeness and completeness comes from being a child of God, loved and precious and held through the storms of life.
So, stop for a moment, take a breath, if inner peace eludes us this Christmas time and anxiety is spilling over into our lives or we are feeling overwhelmed with the weight of the world on our shoulders choose to trust God to give us His peace. We can choose to put our hand in His and draw from His patience and wisdom, He will guide us through the maze of life, if we just ask him.
As we come together to celebrate the birth of our dear Lord Jesus, let us remember the peace that he brought for each and every one of us. Let us trust Him to be our source of inner peace in every aspect of our lives.
Julie Burnett
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