Hope, Peace and The Prince.

What is it about this time of year?  Long November – apparently people call it ‘the most depressing month of the year’.  Although I can’t call our month depressing by any stretch – I feel the longer days pressing in.  I feel the weight of the season and with it, the hard times too.

I talk to my best friend over coffee.  She smiles sweet but speaks of the pain in her heart.  Her son – he may not make it home for Christmas.  The lights, the trees, the decorations – they’re all stinging reminders that he’s not here and he may not make it.  My heart aches for her.  I can do nothing but pray.

She whispers to me that she’s clinging to hope.

That even in the storm, she has peace.  God’s timing.  God’s will.  Peace that surpasses all understanding.  I stare into her dark eyes – God give me faith like this.

I can’t help but gaze up and wonder, where is hope?  I mean, when children can’t make it home to their Mama, and there isn’t enough food, and good people get Cancer, and young men die in car crashes, and little girls drown in an icy lake?  I lay my head on my bed, with my feet planted on the ground, bent over like a rag doll.  I’m not really praying.  I’m just there, my mind swirling – whispering, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. 

Five days ago, we lit the Hope candle on the Advent wreath and what can we do but cling to hope?  On Sunday, we’ll light the second candle – peace. 

Yes, hope and peace.  Isn’t this what we all need?

This time of year, and always?

When all falls quiet and the bickering children have finally rested their heads and hearts – this is what keeps me going – I have an Anchor.  My Anchor is Christ and He keeps me centered.  The Jesus people – we have a Lord and He pulls us back to where we need to be.  In the midst of hard days and bad news and unthinkable pain – yes, I can still say, ‘it is well’.  This is the faith I pray for, and He is the truth and the hope I cling to.

The hope that is found in the Prince of Peace who never passes away, never fails, and who’s loving arms have no limit.   In the darkest moments, in the confusing times, right in the middle of the out-of-control, trapped days – He is there.  He can be found, waiting.

Christ steps in when we are flailing and He calms and He sorts it out and He puts it right.

When we hush long enough to breathe slow, deep breaths – we can always feel Him beside us.  Whispering His sweet peace all through and all over whatever situation begs to steal joy and rob us of of His peace. 

But to feel someone beside us, we need first to stop long enough to look and feel.

Look and see every moment for what it is – exactly what God gives.

Stop and feel the presence of Holy God – Immanuel, God with us.  With us and for us and always right where we need Him.

Christmas is coming and we’re celebrating the coming of Christ and yet, why do we forget He is still here?  Always here.  Right here.

Even if you’d say, ‘… but I don’t know God’.  Ask Him to reveal Himself to you.  Whisper to God Almighty in your times of need.  Call to Him and He will answer.  Whisper the name of Jesus, even if it is so faint not a soul but your own can hear you – He still hears.

He is the Giver of Hope and the Almighty Prince of Peace.  His Kingdom will never pass away, and He is calling us unto Himself.

Draw close and rest in a hope that fills darkness with bursting light.  Reach and grasp onto a Peace that flows over every situation life can whip hard at us.  Because the eternal Prince of Peace has already conquered it all.  The Prince of Peace wins.  Peace wins.  Hope wins.  It has already been decided.  It has already been done.  Now, we wait.

We wait and we tell of His glory – of His hope.  Of His truth. 

What could be more soothing to the spirit in the midst of stress and life’s troubles than knowing Peace has already conquered?  We choose Christ, and we choose Peace.  Peace everlasting.

Take rest, there is an eternal Anchor – we can run to Him and hide under His mighty wings and honestly say, it is well.

Lyrics from:

I Will Rise
by Christ Tomlin

There’s a peace I’ve come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There’s an anchor for my soul
I can say “It is well”

There’s a day that’s drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

If you need a whisper of peace and rest this evening:

Much love and praying Christ will find you, every one of you, and shower you with His love and unfathomable peace…  this weekend and always.