Finding the Prince of Peace This Advent

Every Christmas, I have a hard time getting past the idea of peace in Isaiah 9:6, where it says, “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” (NIV).

Jesus is still a Wonderful Counselor through the Holy Spirit that He gave us at Pentecost. He is a Mighty God who has done things for me and others around me that could only happen because of His greatness. He is also everlasting—the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. The one I struggle with the most is the Prince of Peace part.

I am being honest and may be alone in my questions, but I doubt it. Every day, we wake up to more news of disagreements, violence, and discord. Our world feels very fragile, and many parts of our personal lives do too, whether it be relational issues, financial concerns, poor health, or just the issues that come with life. Where is this peace that we long for? Is it even possible, or is this a promise that will only come at the end when God makes all things right? “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4, NIV).

I have concluded that the peace many of us long for—where everyone agrees and we have no concerns or worries—is not the type of peace we are promised or offered on this side of heaven. So what is it? How can we experience the peace we are offered in the here and now?

When Dan and I were first married, there was much more discord than peace. We argued a lot! We were both young and had a lot of growing up to do. He worked nights, and I worked during the day. There were days when we would argue before I went to work, and by the time I got home, Dan acted as if nothing had happened! Only he wasn’t acting. It was over as far as he was concerned, but for me, it was far from over, and I had been fuming all day. His thinking it was over made me even angrier.

We both had to learn. I had to learn that some things were just not worth the anger and arguments. We also had to learn that living in peace was not the “removal of conflict, never approaching difficult topics or conversations, never having hard words with each other.”* It is about having the mind and attitude of Christ. When our values align with Christ and each other, we can be of one mind and either agree or decide whether the issue is serious enough to shake the peace we hope to have.

Peace is also not having everything going our way and having perfection in life. We all face times when what we feel is anything but peaceful. It feels more like we are on a lake in the middle of a major storm, and we are being tossed here and there, never knowing where we will end up or what else will go wrong.

Jesus spoke about peace during His life on earth. A couple of verses are very clear about this subject when He says to His disciples shortly before His arrest and crucifixion, in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (NIV). And in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (NIV).

There will be trouble, there will be disagreements, there will be those people and situations that disrupt any semblance of peace we may have or so desire. But Jesus has overcome each of them and offers us the knowledge that He walks through it with us and will never leave us. In comparison to eternity in heaven with Him, the issue is temporary.

So how do we live this out? Through an ongoing relationship with the Prince of Peace. When He is the foundation on which our life is built, we can have the mind of Christ. This gives us the wisdom to know which situations and disagreements with other people we need to call out instead of avoid, to try to bring about peace—which isn’t always possible, as indicated in Romans 12:18: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (NIV). Jesus did not avoid conflict with the religious leaders of the time or with His disciples. He called out the important issues when they needed clarification. That is what we should do: focus on the essential and not get caught up in the non-essentials in faith or in life. Some things just aren’t worth the lack of peace.

When it comes to other issues, many promises in the Bible can offer peace. For example, if there is a financial need, remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-34: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?...” (NIV).

Ultimately, peace begins as we examine our hearts, invite Jesus into the situation, remember how God has graciously and mercifully dealt with us, how He has helped us in the past, and practice having the mind of Christ, looking like Him, and remembering His promises. Living this way is only possible when we lean into prayer and spend regular time in His Word and in a community of faith.

So, as we spend the rest of this month in Advent, focusing on the birth of Christ and looking forward to His Second Coming—when we will all be at peace and be with Jesus—may we each have and find the peace that only comes through the Prince of Peace!

Reflection Questions:

• Reflect on a time when, like me, you've questioned where the "Prince of Peace" fits into a world full of discord and violence. What specific areas of your life or the news make it hardest for you to grasp or experience this peace, and how might Isaiah 9:6 challenge or comfort you in that?

• Reflect on a time when financial or health concerns felt overwhelming—like being tossed in a storm. How might Jesus' words in John 16:33 ("I have overcome the world") bring you a sense of peace in similar situations moving forward?

• The devotional references Romans 12:18, emphasizing living at peace with everyone "as far as it depends on you," while noting Jesus didn't avoid necessary conflicts. What are some "essential" issues in your faith or daily life that you feel called to address, even if it disrupts temporary harmony, and how can you do so with Christ's wisdom and mercy?

• Consider the promises in Scripture, such as Matthew 6:25-34, about not worrying over material needs. How has God provided for you in the past, and what steps can you take to remember those instances and the promises from the Bible during current trials?

• The devotional stresses that true peace comes from an ongoing relationship with Jesus through prayer, His Word, and community. Evaluate your current habits in these areas—where are you strong, and where could you grow? How might strengthening them help you build a foundation of peace that withstands personal fragility or global unrest as you anticipate Christ's return?

*Chambo, Samantha. Let Us Adore Him: An Advent Devotional. The Foundry Publishing, 2022.

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