Today’s Devotional is offered by Susan Satterwhite. 

December. 4 kids. Full-time job. Gifts. Parties. Events. Decorations. Cookies. Basketball games. Piano practice. Dance practice. Horse practice. Parades. Birthdays. Shows. Did I say parties? Santa. Elves. Charity events. The list goes on and on. Peace? Not much peacefulness found in all of that…

Then the daily sadness that hits you in the face… Sickness. Poverty. Financial stress. Hunger. Natural disasters. Failed marriages. Troubled teens. Whiny toddlers. Unhappy students. Rocky relationships. Work deadlines. This list goes on and on too. And if there was any peace before this sadness, it is now completely gone.

In a world of high demands and constant struggles, there is only one source of peace. Peace in knowing Jesus. Peace in knowing that no matter how stressful life can be our destination is with Jesus. Each day when we face life’s demands and sadness, we must turn to Jesus to bring us peace.

During the Advent season, we are reminded more and more of the peace we have in knowing Jesus through scripture, hymns, traditions, and celebrations. It is through the birth of Jesus that God gave us this peace we need to endure the daily struggles and sadness here on Earth. Even though our days are full and the stress is high, we rely on these events and traditions to remind us that God is here for us and peace will be within us when we turn to God.
My daily prayer is that I graciously receive all that God has given me. When we receive the peace that Jesus gives us, we can, in turn, give to others. It is the peace of Jesus that helps me push forward as a mother, teacher, wife, sister, daughter, and friend. Without his peace, I would feel defeated.
Each night when the day has been one battle after another, I turn to Jesus and ask for forgiveness for all the times I fall short each day. His forgiveness gives me the peace that I need to push forward and face a new day. His peace allows me to feel content when things don’t go as I would like or when I feel like I’ve given all I have to give. It is the celebration of the birth of Jesus that we can all find peace during this advent season and throughout the year. We must open our hearts to receive the blessings Jesus has given us, and we will surely find peace no matter what demands and stressors we face each day.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:7