“Peace on earth, good will toward men” . . . a phrase heard quite often during the holiday season.  This time of year brings thoughts of family, friendships, gatherings, gift giving . . . love.  And Christians celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ . . . the greatest Gift ever bestowed upon mankind!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. — James 1:17

But peace is something we should strive for and pray for every single day of the year. Jesus is the Prince of Peace!

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. — John 14:27a

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. — Matthew 5:9

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. — Romans 12:18

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.  — Colossians 3:15

According to Vocabulary.com…

Peace is a stress-free state of security and calmness that comes when there’s no fighting or war, everything coexisting in perfect harmony and freedom.

In our broken world it often seems impossible to find peace.  All around us there are nations at war, innocent people victimized by crime and abuse, lives ruined by addictions, injuries and illnesses, strife in our relationships with other people, greed, envy, anger, sadness…  Rather than peace, we find our world in broken pieces.

But there is hope for this world . . . hope for all of us!  And that hope entered our world as a tiny, innocent, vulnerable, beautiful baby, born among the unblemished sacrificial lambs, fulfilling the ancient prophecy that our savior would be born in Bethlehem to a virgin mother . . . Immanuel . . . God with us!

Jesus is the hope that entered a broken world, whose love was so deep for us all that he was willing to feel what we feel, to laugh, to cry, to suffer in pain, to sacrifice himself so that we could have eternal, peaceful, joyful life with him.

When it seems impossible to cope in this broken world, Jesus offers us His love and His strength, so we can pick up the pieces…

I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. — Philippians 4:13

In all four Gospels, we are told that Jesus spoke to an enormous crowd of people near Bethsaida by the Sea of Galilee. He wanted to feed those people, but there were only some bits of bread and a few pieces of fish. So Jesus took the broken pieces and He put together more than enough food to feed everyone until they were satisfied. Not only did over 5,000 people have plenty to eat, but there was actually some food left over!

What an incredible miracle those people experienced! And then Jesus did it again!  On the other side of the sea, in the region of the Gerasenes, He transformed more broken pieces of bread and fish into another massive feast that fed over 4,000 people. And again, everyone was satisfied… full… whole!  Because that’s what Jesus can do. He is waiting to take our broken pieces and make us whole again!

About a week ago, I was feeling extremely overwhelmed by a stressful situation.  I was seriously depressed and feeling defeated. As I was cleaning our kitchen, I found an old, unopened fortune cookie, broken into tiny pieces. Planning to toss it into the trash can, I hesitated, opened the little plastic wrapper, watched the cookie pieces tumble on top of the garbage, then read the little slip of paper… “Mighty forces will come to your aid.”  And there it was . . . the reminder I needed at that very moment!

Jesus is the Mighty Force that is always right there with us through all the storms we go through in this world.  He will take our broken pieces and make us whole again. Just have faith in Him, trust Him, love Him.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world!”  — John 16:33

Laurie E. Hoppe-Ringer

November 27, 2023