Advent: Goodwill to Man -Monday, December 9
Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
Luke 2:14
We live in a world of the unknown which can bring anxiety.
I have suffered bouts of anxiety in my past. I lived in constant fear of the unknown. Around every corner, we just never know what catastrophe awaits us. The list of things that could go wrong in this life can bring major anxiety: a death in the family, a child getting sick, a spouse getting cancer, or the loss of a job.
To counteract the unknown, we seek peace. Some people desperately search for this peace and never find it. The unbelieving world searches for it in many different places: human relationships, drugs, alcohol, and many other potentially harmful things. Even those in the family of Jesus Christ turn a blind eye to the peace he offers.
I spent a large part of my life looking for peace in all the wrong places. I was a redeemed child of God, living as if God did not have control of anything. But God used my anxiety to put me on my knees and turn to Him in prayer. He used my anxiety to bring me closer to Him through his Word and to rely on Him - our Peace Maker.
There is a lot of stress and anxiety in ministry, but God grants us his peace every day to carry out his work.
Father God, I thank you for your Son coming to take my place on the cross. Jesus, thank you for bringing the peace that comes from my restored relationship with the Father. Holy Spirit, thank you for comforting me with peace this day and in all the days to come. In Jesus' name, Amen.