Isaiah 9:6-7

“For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end…”

Every time we watch T.V., listen to the radio, or check social media we are bombarded with updates of just how much our world appears to lack peace. For many today, the idea of peace is far-fetched, almost as if it can only be found in a fairytale. It sounds too good to be true, that one can be content and at rest, no matter their circumstances. When the savings account is running dry, your joy is still full. When you don’t land the promotion, or get your raise, you’re still giving thanks. When medical issues and bills keep stacking up, your faith in God remains as steadfast as ever. How does one get here? Regardless of upbringing or religious background, tough days will always come. At these moments, peace is what everyone longs for, but not everyone obtains it.

In our busyness, and for some, in their unfortunate circumstances, it’s easy to forget the important messages of Christmas. Jesus flipped the world upside down, and He assures us His Kingdom will have no end. As Pastor Greg mentioned on Sunday, once Jesus begins His work in your heart (and it’s received), there will be no stopping the transformation that will occur! The peace, joy, hope, and everything Jesus has promised is only going to multiply and expand in your heart! His peace, real peace, is always a heart issue! We can only point our fingers of blame at others, or the world, for so long until we run out of things to point at. The real issue will always be our own hearts. Until we allow God to take hold of those areas, we will continue to find ourselves tossed to-and-fro.

Starting this Christmas season, let’s take our eyes off of everything that troubles us, and fixate on Jesus once again. Let us cultivate in our hearts everything Jesus said should be there! Allow his peace, joy, and love abound and have no end in your heart this year!