There are plenty of moments when it is hard to be human. We inhabit these frail, broken bodies that feel physical and emotional pain. It is hard to live a daily life where we can trust the Holy Spirit and constantly practice the presence of God.
Often, I find myself wondering what my life would be like if I never felt anxiety. I have struggled for years with anxiety and, at some seasons, with depression (albeit never clinically diagnosed). To be honest, I never realized it was anxiety for decades. It took a global pandemic, time with my thoughts, and learning to live a contemplative & introspective life to understand and make sense of my jumbled emotions.
Sometimes, we just need to sit with our jumbled thoughts, untangle them, make sense of them, and surrender them to God. Sometimes, we might need some extra help from wiser doctors and medicine. There is no shame in asking for help.
As an Indian, it was harder for me to accept that dealing with anxiety might be something I would always have to live with. I did not grow up in a culture where people discussed mental health, emotions, or feelings. We put our heads down, did our duty, worked hard, and did not complain. Now, hear me when I say there is benefit in doing the right thing and working hard.
But it is also OK to be aware of our feelings and emotions, especially during times of stress and busyness. There are times in life when we need to address our feelings and spend some time doing business with God.
During Advent and the lead-up to Christmas, we commonly hear from friends and other loved ones about the worries, anxiety, and stress they face. It is a season where the world mocks us from television screens and radios about happy families, extraordinary social lives, Christmas parties galore, and the Instagram world where everyone paints pictures of their best lives.
If we are honest with ourselves, we all want that life. We want this picture-perfect life, and we desperately search for relief from the anxiety and fears that plague us. We want the brokenness of our bodies to be healed, our souls to be parched and seek a sweet, refreshing sip of water, we want injustice to end, for our families to be mended, for understanding, compassion, kindness, maybe even just a bit of civility from those around us.
Our hearts and voices cry for relief, but this world can offer no such thing. If it does, it’s temporal, and the pain soon returns. We can numb ourselves with worldly healing or turn to the One who promises us eternal healing and the Peace that passeth understanding.
Luke 2:14 says, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Peace is one of the hallmarks of the Christmas story. Isaiah 9:16 calls Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the One who comes to bring Peace to this broken world.
The people of Jesus’s time desperately needed Peace from an oppressive rebellion. It’s not as if the world has changed much since then. We still see wars, fighting, murder, and people being oppressed. Their voices cry out for Peace and relief.
Jesus brings us Peace. But it’s not just the Peace of overturning oppressive regimes, though He can and will do that in His time. He brings us inner Peace from salvation and His work on the cross. A promise to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We have the assurance of eternal life, and that brings us Peace.
He gives us the gift of Peace with each other. It is an opportunity for us to live out the love that He bestows on us with others, bringing Peace between broken relationships. We can choose to set aside our differences and try to get along. We can be the ones who tell others about the Peace of God.
When we surrender our tempestuous hearts to the Prince of Peace, His power helps us look at the world through Heaven’s eyes and helps us live in this liminal space of here and not yet.
This world will have pain, sorrow, anxiety, and fear. We may wonder if Peace will ever fill our hearts, but when we set our hearts on the Prince of Peace, trusting in His promises for this weary, expectant world, we will experience Peace, relief, rest, and faith in a terrifying & turbulent world.
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.
Questions for Reflection
1. In the busyness of the Christmas season, take some time to reflect on what might be troubling your heart. The hectic pace of the week and the million things that need to be done? The feeling of being left out from some social circles? The anxiety of being around many people or worries in your heart? Make a list of the things that cause you to feel anxious and threaten the peace of Christ in your life.
2. As you read the scripture verses, consider what God gives you and compare it to what the world gives you. How does it make you feel, and how do you want to respond to God?