A Different Kind of Peace

Every year at Christmastime, images of peace pop up. More than any other time of year, the message of peace resonates in the hearts of believers as a reminder of who they will soon celebrate. The Peace Giver. The celebration of sweet baby Jesus lying in a manger, with the accompanying promised peace, is a cherished tradition. Even now, I think of warm cups of cocoa, mittens, and the backdrop of Christmas carols.

Except this year is so different. This year, amid all the chaos that defines 2020, we are now faced with lonely holidays to keep ourselves and our extended families safe. This year, instead of gathering for tree lightings and Christmas Eve services that focus on bringing us together, we will stay intentionally apart. To me, that doesn’t feel the same as every other Christmas. It certainly doesn’t feel like anything that resembles peace. 

The thing about peace, though, is that it doesn’t depend on our circumstances. It’s dependent on our Savior. The way things are going doesn’t nullify what has already happened. In fact, some of the brokenness and helplessness that we are feeling might even lead us to a place where we can experience peace, true peace, in a new way. Perhaps more so than ever before.

I am reminded of a story from the gospel of Matthew. In chapter 8:23-27 (NLT), we read about a different kind of peace:

Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

There are some key points to take away from this scripture. First, many of the disciples were experienced fishermen who grew up along these very waters. They were accustomed to harsh weather. But this wasn’t any ordinary storm. “Fierce storm” actually refers to a storm more like a hurricane. And hurricanes weren’t typical for the Sea of Galilee. As the disciples start to worry, you can hear the desperation in their voices, of their overwhelming fear of drowning. It felt like they were going to drown. Fishermen who knew these waters, were familiar with storms, and experienced in keeping boats afloat felt like everything was going to fall apart.

As Jesus gets up and calms the storm, peace replaces the disciples’ fear. They at once recognize His power over nature. Consider also that these were Jewish men who knew the Torah. They understood that Yahweh, God, was the only one with control over nature. The disciples witnessed God’s very presence with them in the boat.

What does this story tell us? Well, it doesn’t tell us that there won’t be storms in life. It reveals quite the opposite. There will be things that surprise us. Things that don’t make sense. Things that we feel prepared for and unprepared for. Things that feel scary and overwhelming. Things that we will be helpless against.

The promise in all of this? Jesus. Jesus is with us in the storm. Even when it feels like we are going to drown, His very presence is enough to calm our hearts. That promise of Jesus’ presence doesn’t lead us to a place where we can just hold onto the boat and hope everything will be OK.  Instead, the promise leads us to a place where we can truly experience peace, knowing that He is with us in the storm.

So during this year, 2020, the year that makes no sense, that keeps surprising us with each news cycle, that brought division, fear, and loneliness, He is with us. Yahweh. God with us. That’s the promise of peace that comes with Christmas. 

Jesus. He will never leave us alone in the boat. And for me? That’s the only gift I need.