For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Well, over 1400 years later, Jesus was born, Eve’s offspring, and brought peace against death. He crushed Satan, crushed death, and gave us salvation.
People can struggle with peace in two forms, inner peace and peace with others. Anxiety is a big crusher of inner peace. People who struggle with forms of anxiety don’t always feel Satan creeping in, and then can’t get him out. I would tell someone struggling with anxiety to reach their hand out for God. He is there. Grab His hand and take one step out of the darkness at a time. Inner peace begins with a connection to God, when we allow Him to fill us.
Peace with others is also a choice. God has called us to be peacemakers in the world. Maybe there is a strained relationship that needs mending? An apology to be made to break the top long silence? We can bring peace by making the choice to listen to God’s calling this Christmas. This is not to say you should put yourself in a toxic relationship or situation. But if you can bring peace back to the table, then try.
Let us pray the prayer of St. Assisi this week, and be the peacemaker in our home, our jobs, our family this Christmas:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; and Where there is sadness, joy… Divine Master; Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
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