Peaceful New Year

Happy New Year! No, I am not crazy. Today is literally the first day of the new year for us Christians. The new year begins on the first Sunday of Advent, which is today. I find that a little comforting in a strange way. Especially this year for all the craziness that has happened. I have already bought my planner for the year. It is from a christian company called “Sacred Ordinary Days” and they specialize in Christian Planners. This planner officially begins today. So as I open my new planner, I can breathe a sigh of relief and say, today is a new day. Today, I am at peace for I have put the hardship of yesterday behind me. This Advent season I want you to think how you can enjoy the future. Can you find hope in the future. How will the future bring you joy? And in what ways will you experience and give love in the future. Today, we are going to start with Peace.

Pray and Read Isaiah 40:1-11

It is hard to think about how we can experience peace in the future when this year has been anything but peaceful and there doesn’t seem to be any days of peace for us any time soon. However, it is not where you find the peace, but in whom you find peace that is important.

In this passage, Isaiah is telling Hebrew people to be at peace. He says be at comfort, God tells them to be comforted. The Hebrew word can also be translated to mean, console yourself or be consoled. Anyone who has experienced hardship or grief can understand that it is a process to be consoled. Just like if you are sick, it may be hard to find comfort or feel comfortable. Yet, for those who are grieving to be comforted, or those in hardship to find consolation is a wonderful relief.

So the peace that Isaiah is speaking to the Hebrew people comes at a time when they need relief, they need comfort, and to be consoled. God’s people have been suffering through sin, evil leaders leading them in wrong directions, war and finally exile into a land that was not their own. So Isaiah tells them to be comforted. In this strange land, find comfort. In this hard time, find consolation. However, let us not forget that they got themselves into this position in the first place. Not each one of them personally, but as a nation, they had forgotten their history of being people of God. As a collective, they had broken God’s laws and the covenant that was made to God by their ancestors. They had many warnings that went unheard. To now, they had no where else to turn except back to God. So when Isaiah is telling them to be consoled, it comes at a time of repentance. Isaiah tells them gently as God instructed, that they are forgiven. As a matter of fact they are forgiven twice as much, or have paid the price of their sins twice. Their punishment is over, the penalty has been paid. Those are comforting words.

In each of the four Gospels, the words here from Isaiah are shared again to prophesy the ministry of John the Baptist. He would come from the wilderness and tell the multitude who would listen, that God’s Glory was coming, and was already here. John would tell everyone to get ready for the coming of the Messiah. In the trouble that the Jews experienced from the oppressive Roman government, this gave them peace. Their suffering was not over, yet those who accepted Jesus as the Messiah, like us today had peace knowing that redemption was real and was coming.

These words of peaceful consolation are still true today. What can we say to those who are in chaos, those who are surrounded by fear, sin, and suffering? “Be of good comfort! Your time of suffering is like the grass and flowers, here for a time, but soon to pass. But your Comforter is here, and your Salvation is at hand.” Be at peace, everything really will work out for the best. A bright future is hard to see when it is dark, but dawn is coming! Get ready! The time is now to be ready for our Messiah is coming. Speak of things that are of good tidings. Speak with strength and confidence.

All of God’s children are like his lambs, whom He will bundle up in His arms and carry them gently. God will lead His people to peace for all eternity. Remember our eternity is now and never ending as God’s kingdom is now and yet to come. Take heart Christians, Jesus already won the war for us, the little battles against His people will fail and will only make us stronger.

I found peace when I opened up my journal to blank pages of future dates full of possibility. I was happy because I did not see events that had to be scribbled out due to cancellations or because they were postponed. I can today look forward, and breathe. Today, I can rest. Today, I can find peace. How or where can you find peace? Maybe it is in the forgiveness of your sins. Maybe it is in forgiving another for the wrong that was done to you. Maybe you can find peace in knowing that the past is past and God is still in control. Maybe you can find peace knowing that soon, Jesus will return, but until then, he has a plan for you. Maybe you need to find peace in the moment, in a pause, to cherish those around you and take note of what is going on right in front of you. Take comfort God’s people! Time goes on faster than you think, so take peace when you can.

In the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.