“And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!” – John 16:33 TPT

Peace isn’t found in the absence of problems, it is found in the presence of Jesus. 

Peace isn’t found in the hope that the world will get it right, it is found in the promise that Jesus already did.

Peace is not about having a day without conflict or suffering, it is about leaning into God’s strength to deal with conflict and suffering. 

Having peace does not mean having a day without external noise or internal worry.

It is that in the midst of external madness and internal strife that you remember and rest in the truth that you are loved by God.

And nothing will change that.

As I write this, the words of an old hymn come to mind:

“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name

On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

When darkness hides His lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil 

On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way, 

He then is all my hope and stay

On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh, may I then in Him be found 
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne’

On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

by Edward Mote, 1834

My friend, no matter what you are facing this Christmas, my prayer for you is that Jesus would be the rock you stand on.