Finding Peace in the Waiting - Your Nightly Prayer - November 20th
Finding Peace in the Waiting
Your Nightly Prayer
By Greg Grandchamp
TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” - Isaiah 26:3
SOMETHING TO PONDER
For many of us – and if we’re honest, most of us – waiting can be a very difficult task. It seems that we are born with the “want it now” sense – and as time goes on, immediate gratification can be almost an idol for us. But being a follower of Christ sometimes requires patience, yet when we set our hearts and our minds right, we can find tremendous peace in having patience. Tremendous peace in the waiting.
The Jews have been in a period of waiting for the Messiah for some 6,000 years. They have had no choice but to wait patiently. Each first-born male child is treated specially – as if. But…it does certainly seem as if their sense of anticipation has faded over the centuries – over the millennia. For us too, there is a danger of letting Christmas become just another season of the year – one we see as simply a secular commercial holiday rather than how believers should see Christmas – preparing our hearts to celebrate the coming of Christ.
The entire season of Christmas seems to be starting earlier and earlier. The commercial pressure begins to mount immediately following Halloween. But for believers, certainly the start of Advent makes it feel imminent. And finding peace during the entire season of Advent can be a journey of anticipation. But it can also be a challenging journey of preparation, which can add to the stress we might already be feeling – whether it be financial, or getting out to the stores, or family get-togethers.
It can be so tempting – and so easy – to let the pressures of this life stand in the way of finding our peace. It can be so easy to let the feeling of God’s promises of peace pass us by – believing the lies that peace is easy for everyone but me. We can be overcome with worry about the holidays, or about a situation imposing on us, and it can feel like real peace is nothing more than a far-off dream.
But whenever we begin to doubt God’s promise of peace, we can remind ourselves that the reason is usually because we are trying to work through things in our own strength. And too often, the peace we seek to find simply means we desire the solution to be as we desire – our will – and not the Lord’s. We seek a solution rather than a quiet heart in the midst of our storms. And yet, God’s peace is about so much more than our temporary situations in this life. So much bigger than our circumstances.
We can absolutely have peace in the waiting because we can know and have confidence that God already has the victory. And that victory is what we celebrate at Christmas. Even if December 25 may not have been the actual date of His birth – as many non-believers try to remind us – that is the day we celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the One who showed us and gives us the ultimate victory over death and over all things that worry us and impose on our peace.
God has promised peace to His people throughout Scripture. Isaiah 26:3 is but one example. However, the feeling of holding your breath – waiting for the hard times to pass – is often difficult to overcome. Walking through tragedy can be a challenge to our peace.
It is important – no, vital – that we remind ourselves of His promises to keep us in perfect peace, by keeping our minds and hearts steadfast on Him.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
We cannot be grateful enough that you love us so much that you sent your Son to us to bring us love, joy, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and peace. Help me to remember and keep my heart focused on these messages of this season, and not on the busyness and worry that threatens to steal that peace.
In Jesus' holy name,
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. In a time of such anticipation and preparation, use Advent to slow down in the rush. Take a breath, a moment – and reflect on the true significance of the birth of our Savior – and prepare your hearts to receive Him.
2. Stay focused on not just the tradition, but the very deep meaning of each week of Advent:
Hope – our anticipation of Christ’s birth;
Peace – the peace that Christ brings us all, and the reminder of finding and keeping His peace in our hearts;
Joy – the joy beyond our circumstances that can be found only in Him;
Love – celebrating God’s immense love for us in sending His Son, and the call to reflect that love to others.
3. Don’t let the message go in one ear and out the other. Focus on what they mean:
Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” - Luke 2:13-14
The heavens rang out with peace immediately following the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Oleg Elkov
Greg doesn’t pretend to be a pastor, a theologian, or a Bible expert, but offers the perspective of an everyday guy on the same journey as everyone else – in pursuit of truth.
Greg can be reached by email or on Facebook @ Greg Grandchamp - Author.
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