Advent: Dec. 22 // God's Gift of Peace

December 22

…we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
— Romans 5:1

Everyone longs for peace, but where does it come from? Where can we find it? Everything around us this time of year appears merry and bright, but if most people were honest, they'd likely say that this time of year brings more unrest than other times of the year. 

The busyness and hurriedness of everything makes it so difficult to be at peace. Financial struggles, family situations, loneliness, and the list could go on. I tend to need peace at my most tired times or in the in-between moments. But the incredible thing is, we have His peace available for us at all times. The night Jesus was born, peace came to earth in the form of a baby. 

When we are made right with God, we have peace. It is not something we work for. Nor is it something we get after getting rid of something or gaining something. It is freely given to us through Jesus. Regardless of what’s happening in our lives, He brings peace. A wholeness and a healing. Things are made right again. When we are in Christ, we have the high favor of God upon us. As we walk through life and encounter suffering, we can rely on God to deliver us. This gives us endurance, knowing that this life is a journey and that God is forming us into the image of Jesus. This kind of endurance changes our character, giving us hope because we can trust that God is faithful and will continue to be faithful. 

If we want to know what God’s love looks like, look to the cross. Romans 5:8 says, "God proves his love."

It is the love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit displayed on the cross that brings us peace and gives us hope

Notice it does not say proved. Before we even knew we needed him, Christ died for us. It is the love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit displayed on the cross that brings us peace, and it gives us hope in this life and the life to come. We can trust that the God who proved his love for us by dying on the cross for our sins, is the same God that walks with us through anything we face. This is where true peace comes from — knowing His love gives us peace, no matter what we face, and hope for what's to come.

When we lose sight of that — and forget about what he's done — we begin to lose peace and hope.

Our life can begin to feel chaotic, especially around the holidays. However, we can experience peace and hope, even when we get discouraged, when anxiety creeps in, or when we are simply upset with our circumstances... because it is a promise He keeps. We can rest assured that these promises of peace and hope can be fulfilled, because God has already delivered and fulfilled His promise to save us from the death of sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Where are you trying to find peace? By faith, receive God’s Christmas gift. Then true peace you will receive.
Peace // God's Gift of Peace | Grace Hill
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