Ahhh Christmas… there is nothing quite like it!

We recently recorded a Christmas song which I had the honour of being a part of – and one line of the song has kept ringing in my spirit and keeps tugging at my heart, as we are leading up to what may be the biggest Christmas season I have ever been a part of. That line that keeps sticking out to me is the title of the song, ‘Peace Has Come‘

Think about it for a second… peace has come.

SEE ALSO: WISHING YOU A PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS

That one line stops me in my tracks every time I hear it because I think of the fact that for some people Christmas can be anything but “peaceful”… Dads work overtime to ensure all the kids get great Christmas presents, Mothers often work even harder organising their households for the endless string of festive gatherings and shindigs… Peace is almost forgotten in amongst it all.

I think too of those for whom Christmas isn’t peaceful for other reasons – maybe it brings back memories of a lost loved one, or memories of disappointment from years gone by, maybe it’s the loneliest time of year for you. Whatever Christmas looks like to you, the reality is that for many people it does not represent a time of peace.

But, even as I struggle myself not to get distracted by all the events that I’m a part of during the Christmas season, I am learning that “peace” is so much more than our external environment, most of which we don’t control. Peace isn’t getting the world around me to slow down to suit my pace and comfort. More and more I am discovering that peace is the ability to still myself, my heart, my spirit and my emotions in the middle of what might seemingly be a “un-peaceful” time of year.

The Bible says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” [John 16:33]

And in Romans 5:1 it says, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.”

I think these verses show us clearly that when Jesus set out to give us peace, He knew that it would mean facing troubles, disappointment & busy-ness and that true PEACE is an internal stance and state of being. But it is also made clear to us through Paul’s letter to the Roman church that our source of peace is not external or internal – but from the ETERNAL. And the peace Jesus brings with God supersedes the lack of peace we may feel in the natural.

This Christmas season, amongst the epic proportions of food, presents, parties and waiting in cues, amongst the possible heartache, loneliness and pain that you might be facing – I pray that we would all make a decision to grab hold of the peace that surpasses all understanding. The peace that only Jesus can bring. Let’s make JESUS the reason for this season AND the reason for our peace!

Remember, “Peace Has Come”, and that peace is ours and His name is Jesus.

Love you all.

David

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