Our Prince of Peace Ensures a Peace-Filled Year

Of all the scriptures that we hear during the Christmas season, this one is like the credits at the end of a movie or even the end of an old year: “And His name shall be called Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:7 Aw! Giving the credit to Who credit is due. Our Prince of Peace.

During the Advent and Christmas season, we found Him. And those with intentionality, found His peace that we can count on 24/7. If we’re purposeful, we’ll find Him everywhere we look, even during the chaos, during interruptions and distractions.

No question, He is everywhere, but the simplest, purest, most humble, and less grandiose place we’ll find Him, is still — in the manger. Can you imagine looking at that precious baby in the manger and sensing the greatest peace we’ve ever known?

Even when Baby Jesus cried as do other babies, as He was gently and lovingly rocked and nursed by His mama, He exuded peace beyond description.

Wouldn’t it make sense that we, too, will find Him in some of the least expected places of our life? Perhaps in the homeless man on the street corner, a newborn baby, the hug from a friend, the “My pleasure” from the Chick-Fil-A cashier, in the “answered prayer” story of a friend, or simply, the cross on a chain around someone’s neck?

I have first-hand experience of knowing Prince Jesus and His peace, He has kept me in during some of my greatest challenges. That’s how this blog came to be. Knowing His peace kept me calm in many storms (both natural storms and storms of the soul), sane in the commotion and clatter that surrounded me, assured and confident when met with obstacles out of my control.

To this day, when all seems chaotic and questions loom, and I may wonder, “What do I do now?” Then the light comes on, and, once again, the scripture, “Him (or Her) I will keep in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Me (my Prince of Peace)” (Isaiah 26:3) comes to me. I fix my mind on Him, and His peace always pervades my world, my circumstances, my home, and my heart.

Oftentimes when anxiety and concern is looming over me, I quickly put on praise and worship music. The specific words of a song will cause the atmosphere to be replaced with calm peace and assurance that God has me and all my cares in His control. God knows about this life journey we are all on. He even knows the outcome!

So why should we worry, fret or be concerned? 2023 is here and we may have questions about what our future will look like. No doubt, we’ll encounter our share of ups and downs. But let’s pivot with the words of Jesus, our Prince of Peace, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. DO NOT let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

While we can’t know all that 2023 will hold for us, we can know the peace that the Prince of Peace provides. His peace is ours for the taking. Prince Jesus is able to sustain us through anything that might come our way.