Advent Week 2: Find Your Christmas Peace

As we come to the second week of Advent, we light the Bethlehem candle and our theme is peace. Peace is something that we all need these days. Christmas can be one of the most hectic and least peaceful times of the year. Between shopping for the perfect gift for everyone on your list, cooking and baking, and cleaning the house for company, Christmas peace is in short supply.

A Challenging Journey

2000 years ago a young woman traveled with her husband from Nazareth to Bethlehem, a 90 mile journey. She and her husband Joseph were required by law to travel back to the home of their ancestors for a Census. Mary was nearing her due date as they set off on their journey.

The trip took at least a week, maybe two. Imagine being 8 months pregnant and walking or riding a donkey for 90 miles. There was no air conditioning or heat, no Hampton Inn or Chik-fil-A along the way. I wonder if Mary thought that she would at least find a bed when they finally arrived? But that wasn’t God’s plan.

I can just imagine her thought process…."Um, God, you know that I’m carrying Your Son, right? You know my labor pains are starting, right? What exactly did you have in mind for this birth? I said I was your handmaid, and I’d go along with your plan, but a STABLE? REALLY????" And for those of you who are picturing a modern stable, think again….most scholars think it was actually a cave used for housing and feeding animals.

But you know what, I feel certain that once she put her precious new son to her breast and looked into the eyes of God, every bit of frustration, exhaustion, and disappointment faded into an indescribable peace. Perhaps the words of Isaiah 26:3 filled her heart “You will keep him (or in this case her) in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You because she trusts in you.”

The Key to Christmas Peace

You might be asking if peace is even possible during this frantic season. I believe it is. The key is making time to pause in the midst of all your preparations. Just like Mary did, gaze into the face of God as you remain still in His presence. Don’t allow the busyness to keep you from daily time in the Word. Make sure you take time to pray, committing each day to Him as it begins. Wouldn’t you love to arrive at December 25 with a sense of peace and calm? You can if your mind is stayed on the Christ of Christmas!