Signs

So, I am driving home today from work and there off the side of the road is a sign. It reads, "All we want for Christmas is Peace!" To find this outside of a church is no surprise but that sounded a little strange coming from a place that should already know and have God's peace. Out of all the things that you could want for Christmas why peace? What kind of peace? Peace from the crazy family? Peace from coworkers? Peace for the war in Middle East? Peace here in the states? Did they want peace from themselves?

Now don't get me wrong, peace is a good thing. God's word says in John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." The question arises though, do they, do we just want to escape reality or do we really want the peace that God has for us? If we just want to escape reality there are a lot of things that we could actively do. We could drink, smoke some weed or shoot up. None of those are really peace but they do, for a little while, get us away from the reality that is bearing down on us.

The latter part of that verse states: "I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." The world sees peace totally different than God that created it. God has to be disappointed in us from the way we interpret peace. We think that it is all smiles and dimples. I tend to think that His peace is about so much more. His peace has to do with how we press into Him in times of chaos. In my opinion, the world will never have peace. Peace in God transcends this world. We can be in the midst of all kinds of things and still know and feel God's peace. We do not have to be afraid either in God's peace. Peace here in this world will always come to an end. We are shown time and time again of that throughout history.

In conclusion, I want peace too but I want God's peace. Peace where I can press into Him like the Pillsbury Doughboy. He can just wrap us up in his big arms and protect us from the crazy world. This is not to say run from your issues but stand and encounter them because you know that God is behind you backing you up!

~Hosh~