by Felix Arellano on December 09, 2024
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." ~ Isaiah 9:6
"Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased." ~ Luke 2:14
Peace is a central theme of Christmas. The angels’ proclamation of “peace on earth” at Jesus’s birth (Luke 2:14) echoes Isaiah’s prophetic title for Him: “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). But if Christmas is about recognizing peace on earth, why does peace often feel so distant during the busiest season of the year? How is it that the season celebrating the Prince of Peace has become the most chaotic time of the year?
Cognitively, I know Christmas is meant to celebrate the peace Jesus brings into our lives. But it’s hard to focus on peace when your holiday to-do list follows you into your dreams, and you wake up exhausted, haunted by unfinished tasks and unanswered emails. The irony isn’t lost on me. It’s almost as if we collectively responded to the angel’s announcement with: “Peace on earth? Let’s celebrate by cramming our calendars to the brink of burnout!”
Can you hear a touch of cynicism in my tone? If so, you wouldn’t be wrong. I will also admit that I felt that cynicism a few days ago when I finally managed to pause long enough to read my Advent reflection for the day:
"God of Advent, walk ahead of me, helping me keep sight of Your vision of peace. May I hold peace in my heart and pray for peace in our broken world. Amen."
Reading about peace against the backdrop of my own busyness left me feeling agitated, as I was forced to reconcile my hurried pace with a season meant to reflect on peace. That internal conflict stayed with me and led me to ask a deeper question: What is peace, really? My thoughts turned to a word I’d once known well: shalom.
As a kid, I often heard an African American pastor at our local church greet people with the Jewish salutation, shalom. Because of his influence, we all became familiar with the word and understood it to mean “peace.” However, an intentional study of shalom revealed that it’s so much richer than the English understanding of the term.
Shalom expresses peace, well-being, and harmony—not just with one another, but with God Himself. It’s a state of wholeness and completeness that can only be found in relationship with God. It’s not just the absence of conflict but the presence of harmony, restoration, and flourishing.
Somewhere along the way, my understanding of peace had become distorted—reduced to a fleeting feeling or the absence of stress. But I’m not alone in this misconception. Even in the prophet Jeremiah’s day, people misunderstood peace. He spoke of those who offered “superficial treatments for my people’s mortal wound. They give assurances of peace when there is no peace.” (Jeremiah 6:14, NLT)
The commentary in the Thomas Nelson Study Bible explains this passage beautifully: “The peace expressed by the false prophets was absence of war or calamity, a concept far removed from the Old Testament shalom, which emphasizes wholeness or soundness. True peace involves complete fellowship with God and right relations with others. It has more to do with character and attitude than outward circumstances.”
This is the peace the angels announced. Not the absence of conflict, but the presence of wholeness—a restoration of relationship with God that brings completeness to our lives. Shalom is a peace that holds steady, even when life doesn’t.
In the midst of holiday chaos, how can we find the peace we long for? The answer is simple: rest. Yes, rest! Give yourself permission to pause, even for just a moment. Rest is an invitation from God, often rejected by urgency, hurry, and pride. We decline this invitation not out of defiance, but because we mistake busyness for productivity and importance.
Consider the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. Mary rests at Jesus’s feet, soaking in His presence, while Martha busies herself with serving. Frustrated, Martha asks Jesus to rebuke Mary for being idle. But Jesus surprises her, affirming that Mary has chosen the better way.
In the same way, we often miss Jesus’s invitation to abide in Him. Instead, we approach Him with our accomplishments, telling Him how busy we’ve been serving Him. We replace the joy of being with Jesus with the pride of doing for Jesus. Rest, we assume, is idle. But rest is anything but idle.
Rest is an active pursuit. It’s the intentional decision to pause and abide with God, responding to His gentle question: “Will you pause long enough for Me to catch your attention?”
Rediscovering the peace of Christ is only a breath away. Right now, wherever you are, take a moment to pause. Notice your breathing—each breath is a gift. Picture Jesus smiling at you, delighted that you’ve chosen to be with Him. As you exhale, ask: “Jesus, where are You?” This is not a question of doubt, but a posture of endearment. It’s a way to become aware of His presence, remembering that “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17).
Reclaiming peace this holiday season can be as simple as spending a minute with the Prince of Peace. He offers a spiritual reality in the midst of physical chaos, and it’s only a breath away.
Peace on earth? Absolutely. Peace invaded earth when God sent His Son to remove the barrier that separated us from Him. Through Jesus, we are invited into wholeness, a completeness with God that can’t be shaken by life’s chaos.
This season, let’s choose to pause and reclaim the peace Christ offers. In every moment of stillness, let His presence remind you that peace is not tied to what’s around you but to Who is within you.
Glory to God in the highest! Peace on earth!
P.S. Need a soundtrack for abiding with Christ this Christmas? I’ve created a Spotify playlist to accompany your moments of reflection. Let these songs guide you as you pause, breathe, and rest in the presence of the Prince of Peace. To access the soundtrack click HERE.
