God's Promise Of Peace

Fear never takes a holiday break or time off. Like an unrelenting storm, fear looks to pummel you with anxiety and mounds of stress. No matter your resolve or wit, fear can get the best of you. Thankfully, God's provision of peace surpasses any imposing fear or force threatening you. Throughout the Scriptures, we read about the refuge of God.
The foretelling of the Christmas story reveals the blessing of the Lord's covering. Approximately seven and half centuries before the birth of Christ, Isaiah prophetically spoke of the birth of the long-awaited Messiah. However, the context was not in a tranquil setting. Instead, the promise of peace was amid a pending attack from Judah's enemies.

Isaiah 7:1-2 says, "This took place during the reign of Ahaz, son of Jotham, son of Uzziah king of Judah: Aram's King Rezin and Israel's King Pekah son of Remaliah went to fight against Jerusalem, but they were not able to conquer it. 2 When it became known to the house of David that Aram had occupied Ephraim, the heart of Ahaz and the hearts of his people trembled like trees of a forest shaking in the wind."

Judah was facing the possibility of total annihilation or, at best, captivity from their enemies. God would send his prophet, Isaiah, to speak with them about his refuge in this time of turmoil. At first, King Ahaz didn't receive this message of comfort; thus, the Lord moved the vision to include the distant future. That futuristic event to come was the birth of Christ. Isaiah 7:13-14 says, "13...Listen, house of David!...14 The Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel."

God not only guaranteed His gracious protection in the present, but He also promised a future Messiah. The birth of Christ and the Christmas story promise peace and calmness.
Typically, Christmas in America becomes the most stressful time of the year. Parking lot fights, traffic jams, rushing around, and relational tensions drain our patience. The need for calmness is clear and relevant. This need is especially real for those going through grief, separation, illness, and financial hardship. Therefore, we need to seek the calmness of Christ this Christmas.
Let the promised Prince of Peace bring much-needed calm to your spirit today and this holiday season.