How to Manage the Tension between Christ’s Peace and this World
The countdown is on. We are less than a week away from Christmas morning. The next six days can easily be filled with a myriad of stresses and emotions. Several weeks ago, at the beginning of December, I heard Amy Grant’s song “I Need a Silent Night” on the radio and I found myself crying. The season had just started, but in that moment, I already felt pushed beyond my limit.
Holiday Stress
As we approach the big day of celebration, we stress over gifts not yet purchased, and wonder if the ones already wrapped are the right choice. We discover extra people are coming to dinner, so we stock up more groceries, only to learn someone else is canceling. Then, our neighbors drop by a gift, so we go shopping for a return thanks-for-living-next-door present. In addition, our anxiety escalates as we look at the stack of Christmas cards yet to be addressed, deal with grumpy people at work, and worry about the weather and the relatives driving in from out of town.
At this point in the holiday, you might have thought you would be more relaxed. But you, like me, are singing along with Amy, “I need a silent night, a holy night. To hear an angel voice, between the chaos and the noise. I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here, to end this crazy day with a silent night.” (“I Need a Silent Night.” Chris Eaton and Amy Grant. Here’s to Jo Music, West Lodge Music, and Grant Girls Music LLC. 2008)
Every year we read the Christmas story and we hear the multitude of angels sing.
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors.”
Luke 2:14
And we wonder, why don’t I feel favored? Where’s my peace?
What is Peace?
Peace is an interesting word; it has several definitions. It can mean no war or hostility and it can mean mutual harmony or a state of tranquility. Merriam-Webster even includes freedom from oppressive thoughts and emotions. None of the definitions declare that life is hunky-dory, and yet I’ve realized, that’s the idea I lean into (more than I care to admit) for me to feel at peace.
The Greek word for peace, “Eirene,” is used around 90 times in the New Testament. Sixteen of the letters in the New Testament begin with a form of the greeting “grace and peace to you.”
Shalom
To the Jews, the Greek word Eirene was equivalent to the Hebrew word Shalom. We hear the word Shalom and label it with our basic definition of peace. The Bible Project has a video that teaches us Shalom is so much more. The creators behind the Bible Project declare the most basic meaning of Shalom is a state of completeness or wholeness.
“The core idea is that life is complex, full of moving parts and relationships and situations, and when any of these is out of alignment or missing, your shalom breaks down. Life is no longer whole. It needs to be restored.”
This broader idea of peace, or shalom, helps me understand why peace feels so fleeting at times. Too often, we experience the tension of living with God, while also living in this world. We have peace in our relationship with God, all is good and well, however, life creates circumstances that cause us to feel less than, incomplete, without peace.
For example, when someone dies, we experience deep emptiness. If we fight with someone in our family, we feel hollow once the anger dies away. When we watch others succeed or achieve something we would like, we combat thoughts that tell us we are less than, not as good as. Which leads us to wonder how to live into the peace God promises us.
Four Truths Related to God’s Peace
Peace and Tension
As I’ve mulled over all these thoughts concerning peace, the Holy Spirit keeps reminding me of four things. First, we will undoubtedly live into the tension I mentioned before of living with God while still living in this world. Paul tells us in Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world…” (NLT). We exist and participate within our culture, but we are not to allow the culture to define who we are and what we do. As followers of Jesus, we live as He would live. Nowhere does Christ say this will be easy; we must accept that life with this tension won’t always feel ideal. In addition, we must grasp we live in this tension every day.
Jesus’ Peace is Other-Worldly
Second, Jesus’ peace is not a worldly peace. In fact, Jesus says in John 14:27 after He promises the Holy Spirit, “…My peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.” Jesus’ peace is not associated with the elimination of war or conflict. In John 14 Jesus speaks of being obedient, of God’s love and acceptance, the Holy Spirit, and His power over the ruler of this world. Each of these things is wrapped up in Jesus’ peace.
Christ’s peace is manifested in us when we trust God’s overwhelming love and acceptance of us so much, we willingly obey the voice of the Holy Spirit. Plus, we live in peace knowing God has conquered sin and death completely, and we can’t be separated from His love. Furthermore, we rest in this peace knowing God’s love always leads Him to do what is best for our relationship with Him.
Peace is Hard Work
Third, living at peace, within peace, requires work and patience. Peter tells us we are to turn away from evil while seeking and pursuing peace (1 Peter 3:11). Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6-7 that we must strive to revamp our thought processes. In Galatians 5, Paul informs us that peace is a fruit of the Spirit’s active participation in our life. These verses reveal struggle, a demand for focus, passion, and energy, as well as patience. For it is the Spirit who blesses our efforts and forms the nature of Christ and His peace in us.
Last, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Just as the Israelites waited hundreds of years for the promised Messiah, we too are looking for His coming. We are in a perpetual season of Advent. Christ has come, His Holy Spirit is with us, and we eagerly await His second arrival, when “we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is.” (1 John 3:2) We will certainly experience Shalom, peace, because life with God will be fully restored.
We have a Savior
In these final days before the celebration of Jesus’ first arrival, you can know peace. The angels in Luke 2 give us the key. “The Savior -yes, the Messiah, the LORD- has been born today in Bethlehem…” (Luke 2:11). We have a Savior. We have One who came to rescue us from the punishment of sin, and the confines of this world. God came as Immanuel to be with us. Indeed, we have so many reasons to join with the multitude of angels and sing, “Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!”
“Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power].”
Peace is found when we see all things through our Savior, Jesus. He has justified us and reconciled us to God. Regardless of our day-to-day circumstances, Christ provides grace for us, so we know without a doubt we are welcomed into the presence of God Almighty. We have a confident hope that we will one day see the full glory of God and live forever with Him.
