And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
When was the last time you felt genuine peace? There are a lot of things that happen in the world that affect us positively or negatively. This ranges from the way our team plays to the latest headline on the news. It is often difficult to find a moment of peace because there are so many things that are going on in our world and in our minds. Peace is something we all desire in our souls but struggle to find in chaotic circumstances.
Jesus’s arrival changed the way we understand peace. We don’t ever have to feel like peace is a far-off dream or a reality that is only possible under the right circumstances. When the angels greeted the shepherds, they praised God and proclaimed His peace. With Jesus’s arrival, hope was no longer distant, it was present and continues with us today. Through Christ, we can have peace is any moment we face. His peace is accessible not only as a possibility but as a promised byproduct from walking with Him who holds the world together. In a world full of chaos, heartbreak, and hard times, we can have peace and respond like the shepherds, running to share this hope with others that they might also seek Jesus.
- What are some areas in your life that do not feel peaceful?
- How has following Christ changed your understanding of peace? What does it look like to pursue God’s peace daily?
- Pray and ask God to give you peace over the stressful situations you are facing right now.
