Slideshow image

The word "peace" appears everywhere during the Christmas season. It's written on decorations, printed on greeting cards, emblazoned across wreaths and ornaments. We see it so frequently that it becomes part of the seasonal backdrop. Yet despite this constant reminder, many of us struggle to actually feel peace in our hearts. Why is there such a disconnect between the peace we celebrate and the peace we experience?

This paradox reveals something profound about the nature of true peace and where it can actually be found.

The Gift of Peace

When Jesus spoke to His disciples, He made them an extraordinary promise: "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 14:27).

Notice the distinction Jesus makes here. He doesn't give peace "as the world gives." The world's version of peace is conditional, temporary, and circumstantial. It depends on everything going right—the perfect job, the ideal relationship, financial security, good health. But Jesus offers something fundamentally different: His peace.

This isn't just any peace. This is peace for your anxious mind, peace that addresses the deepest worries and fears that keep you awake at night.

The Prince of Peace

The Christmas story itself points us toward this truth. When the angels appeared to the shepherds, they proclaimed: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth" (Luke 2:14). This announcement wasn't merely wishful thinking or seasonal sentiment. It was a declaration that peace had arrived in human form.

The prophet Isaiah had foretold this centuries earlier: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given...And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

The title "Prince of Peace" is significant. Jesus doesn't just promise us peace or point us toward peace—He IS the Prince of Peace. In Hebrew, this title is "Sar Shalom." "Sar" means the one in charge, the ruler, the authority. "Shalom" encompasses rest, tranquility, wholeness, and the fullness of peace. Jesus holds complete authority over peace itself.

The Foundation of Peace

But how did Jesus establish this peace? The answer takes us to the heart of the gospel message. Scripture tells us, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus accomplished what we could never do for ourselves. Through His sacrifice, He removed the barrier between us and God. He took our sin, our shame, our guilt, and our condemnation upon Himself so that we could receive His righteousness. This is the foundation of true peace—not something we achieve, but something we receive through Christ.

Perfect Peace Through Trust

Isaiah 26:3 provides a powerful formula for experiencing God's peace: "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!"

Read that verse again slowly. Perfect peace—not partial peace, not occasional peace, but perfect peace—comes to those who trust in God and fix their thoughts on Him.

This reveals an important truth: Peace isn't found in the absence of problems. Peace is found in the presence of God.

Think about that distinction. Many of us spend our lives trying to eliminate problems, thinking that if we could just solve this issue or overcome that obstacle, we'd finally have peace. But God's peace doesn't work that way. His peace exists alongside our problems, transcending our circumstances.

The verse emphasizes trust. Not understanding, not control, not having all the answers—but trust. Proverbs 3:5-6 echoes this theme: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths."

Surrender Over Control

Here's a challenging truth: The peace of God is found in surrender, not control.

Our natural instinct is to grasp for control. We want to manage every variable, plan for every contingency, and maintain our grip on life's steering wheel. But this approach leads to anxiety, not peace. The tighter we hold on, the more peace slips through our fingers.

God invites us to a different way—the way of surrender. To acknowledge that He is God and we are not. To release our need to control outcomes and instead trust His character and His promises.

This doesn't mean passivity or irresponsibility. It means actively choosing to trust God's sovereignty while doing what He calls us to do. It means fixing our thoughts on Him rather than on our fears.

Peace That Refines

There's another dimension to God's peace worth considering: Just as Jesus gives us peace to comfort us, He can withdraw it to refine us.

Sometimes God allows us to feel unsettled because He's calling us to change direction, to address something in our lives, or to deepen our dependence on Him. The absence of peace can be His way of getting our attention, much like a warning light on a car's dashboard.

This doesn't contradict His promise of peace; rather, it shows that His peace serves a purpose beyond mere comfort. God's ultimate goal isn't our comfort but our transformation into Christ's likeness.

Choosing Peace

The apostle Paul provides practical guidance for experiencing God's peace: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

Notice the progression: Don't be anxious. Instead, pray. Present your requests with thanksgiving. Then—and this is key—the peace of God will guard your heart and mind.

This peace "transcends all understanding." It doesn't make logical sense given your circumstances. It's supernatural, a gift that only God can give.

This Christmas

As you navigate this Christmas season, surrounded by decorations proclaiming peace, remember that true peace isn't found in perfect circumstances, resolved problems, or controlled outcomes.

True peace is found in a Person—the Prince of Peace who came to earth as a baby, lived a perfect life, died for our sins, and rose again to offer us reconciliation with God.

Fix your thoughts on Him. Trust Him with all your heart. Surrender your need for control. Present your anxious thoughts to Him in prayer.

And discover the peace that transcends all understanding—the peace that the world cannot give and cannot take away.