Jesus— God’s gift to the world, our Savior from the powers of darkness. As followers of the risen Christ, we rejoice and celebrate Immanuel, God with us. While our wondrous reality stands, where do we? As the Body of Christ, are we truly living out this proclaimed peace granted to us through Jesus? Are we swept away by temporary chaos, or are we rooted firmly in the promise that is ours? I’d say I’ve been muddled in the waters of the former for some time.

Desperate for a change, a break, a safe place to rest, I began to realize the impact of my gaze. Consumed by the world’s anxieties, it was clear my priority was to control my circumstances. Fearful of what may lie ahead, I refused to let go and genuinely believe God that He cared enough about the particulars of my life, even concerning the smallest of worries.

I find it unfortunately easy to forget who the LORD is amidst my daily routine. In the sending of His Son, we see love displayed perfectly in the form of a man. Proclaiming Himself as gentle and lowly, He desires a profound relationship with each of us. Knowing our hearts, we can fall shamelessly into Him, as there is no guilt or fear that stands a chance in comparison to His abounding compassion and understanding. Words cannot fully communicate the warmth of His welcoming us into His embrace.

Choosing to consistently submit our gaze to His sovereignty over our lives, we will find ourselves resting in the LORD’s character. Let our meditation be His unchanging provision, indescribable love, and His genuine joy to walk alongside us each day. In this, our hearts know peace.

As I still myself (with great effort) and give more time getting to know just who I pray to, I find myself discovering His peace more frequently. May we continually remind ourselves of what the birth of Jesus has brought humanity. I wish you the merriest of holidays as we celebrate with full hearts the gift of our Savior!