~Peace~
Do you know what I find interesting…I think
that the four Candles (themes) of Advent can build on each other. So without further ado, let’s look at how
Hope leads to Peace.
I don’t know if you've ever felt
hopeless. I think people who do tend to
react in one of two ways. They either
give up or they fight back. Some people
simply stop trying. They figure that if
there is no hope of a better tomorrow then why try to change/love/grow/create/imagine/strive
etc… On the other side of the spectrum,
you have those who fight back. They push
hard against anything and anyone they feel they can beat in order to exert
control in some areas of life since they feel lost in others. For people on both sides of this coin, the
fight to simply care enough to try or the fight to maintain a semblance of
control can be exhausting.
But I think that is where we see hope and
peace colliding. For the person who has
given up, they now have something to live for; a future that is brighter than
today. For the fighter, they now have a
glimpse of something good that isn't dependent upon them winning another
fight. When Jesus came, we were all
offered a hope for the future. A future
home in heaven, and a purpose here on earth.
With that hope comes a peace of striving less on our own strength. With that hope comes a peace of knowing that
the future is in hands that are eternal and strong. There is a peace that can overwhelm our souls
when we give ourselves over to the Hope of the World—Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 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.
That peace can be yours…You can stop attempting to make it on your own. You can give your helplessness and your fighting over to the one who gives strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. That is the peace that surpasses all understanding. That is the peace Jesus Christ brought to the world.
Philippians 4:6-7 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.
That peace can be yours…You can stop attempting to make it on your own. You can give your helplessness and your fighting over to the one who gives strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. That is the peace that surpasses all understanding. That is the peace Jesus Christ brought to the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment