A Peace That Transcends Understanding
Each Christmas season, the bedtime routine for our young children included singing some traditional Christmas carols like Silent Night and O Holy Night. The songs make for a soothing transition from playtime to bedtime.
Silent night, holy night.
I find the songs soothing as well, a helpful antidote to the constant negative news coming across our television and computer screens.
All is calm, all is bright.
Maybe you’re out of work. Or maybe your retirement plans have been put on hold by forces outside your control. If so, the sentiments in those lyrics can smack of just so much Pollyanna.
But they were the very sentiments expressed by the prophet Micah seven centuries before Jesus was born, as he described a Savior who would provide his followers with a sense of security and peace that transcends their circumstances.
“He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace.” – Micah 5:4-5
Perhaps this year, in the chaos of unrest, racism, continued political maneuvering, wars, and more, we need to approach Christmas—we need to approach Christ—with the wonder, innocence, and humility of a child. Perhaps now more than ever we need to rest in the truth that security and peace can be found—in fact, they can only be found—in the One whose birth we celebrate.
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King, Behold your King.
Merry Christmas, everyone.