The Gift of Jesus | PEACE
As we move through Advent, reminders of peace, hope, and joy surround us. The radio plays Silent Night. Polar bears open a Coca-Cola on TV. Houses glow with Christmas lights. These sights feel like an invitation to breathe in God’s goodness.
But if we’re honest, “peace” may not be a word we’d use to describe this year. In our church family alone, there have been job losses, health scares, strained relationships, grief, and uncertainty. Outside the church, the world feels loud and divided. Politics seem more hostile than ever. Where does peace fit into any of this?
For me, peace has been tested in a different kind of disruption. Back in March, my wife noticed water seeping from under our dining room floor tiles—and a few warped kitchen cabinets. A slow, unseen leak had been causing damage for who knows how long. The plumber fixed the leak, but eight months later, we still have missing drywall, missing floors, missing countertops, missing cabinets—and a kitchen sink sitting on the living room floor.
But in all of this, our home has still been a place of peace. My wife has shown remarkable patience. My kids have been resilient. We’ve still eaten meals together. We’ve still laughed together. The disruption has been real—but peace has remained. It has reminded me that peace is not the absence of problems. Peace is the presence of God in the middle of them.
That same truth appeared two thousand years ago on a hillside outside Bethlehem.
Picture it: a night like any other. Shepherds settling in by a small fire. Ordinary conversation. Millions of stars overhead. Life wasn’t easy—but it was familiar.
Then suddenly—light. The darkness tears open. It’s as bright as noon. The stars vanish under a flood of brilliance. An angel appears. Terror sets in. Luke’s language is vivid: they feared a great fear. The NET Bible translates it plainly—they were absolutely terrified.
And the first words the angel speaks?
“Do not be afraid.”
If you’ve been reading Luke carefully, you’ve heard this before. Zechariah heard it. Mary heard it. The shepherds heard it.
And God is still saying it:
Do not be afraid.
When life detonates—do not be afraid.
When the house is a wreck—do not be afraid.
When the job is uncertain or gone—do not be afraid.
Why?
Because the message of Christmas remains unchanged:
God is with us.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased.”
—Luke 2:14
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
—John 14:27
Reflection Questions
- Where has fear taken over this year?
- What circumstances are disrupting your peace right now?
- What would it look like to trust that God is with you in them?
Written by Gabe Smith | Woodcreek Member
Questions? communications@woodcreekchurch.com
You are invited to join us this Sunday as we celebrate the Prince of Peace.
