Today’s devotion is based on Come Home for Christmas Week 4 – PEACE (WATCH HERE)
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8
We often talk about peace most when it’s missing.
You can sense it in the weariness of conversations, the anxiety beneath everyday routines, and the quiet fear that surfaces when life slows down. Something isn’t right. It’s not just out there in the world, but in here, in us. The Bible doesn’t dismiss that feeling. It names it.
The lack of peace creates a spirit of anxiety and darkness. Isaiah speaks to our hearts. He speaks to ones lacking in peace but searching for it. Isaiah speaks to people walking in darkness. Not temporary shadows, but “deep darkness.” This isn’t poetic exaggeration. It’s the honest description of a world fractured by sin, injustice, fear, and broken relationships. It’s a picture of the lack of peace. Yet, Isaiah does not begin with condemnation. He begins with hope: “A light has dawned.”
The Light born in Bethlehem would bring peace.
Biblical peace—shalom—is far more than calm feelings or quiet moments. Shalom means wholeness. It includes safety, provision, a right relationship with God, harmony with others, freedom from fear, and rest for the soul. When any of those are missing, we feel it. We may try to manage life, distract ourselves, or push forward, but deep down we know something is off.
It’s like living in a house with a cracked foundation. Everything may look fine on the surface, but over time the cracks spread. Doors don’t close properly. Walls begin to separate. The problem isn’t cosmetic, it’s structural. In the same way, the restlessness we feel points to something deeper than stress. It points to our need for God’s peace.
Psalm 4:8 reminds us that true peace is not self-generated. David doesn’t say, “I finally figured things out,” or “my circumstances improved.” He says, “For you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Peace is not something we achieve; it is something we receive from the presence of God.
Peace is a gift that God gives. Peace settles in our heart to have confidence in the power, promises and presence of God. It’s knowing that no matter the external circumstance, the Lord is shining his light into the darkness I am experiencing.
Christmas begins here: not with answers, but with awareness. Awareness of our deep need for peace and the overwhelming gift that God gives, God meets us to give to us exactly what our heart needs.
Reflect: Where do you most feel the absence of peace in this season of life? How might God be using your restlessness to draw you closer to Him?
Prayer: Lord, we confess that our hearts and our world are not as they should be. We feel the darkness and the longing for something more. As we begin this journey toward Christmas, teach us to wait with hope and to seek peace in You alone. Amen.