“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” ― John 14:27.
Advent invites us to slow down, breathe deeply, and notice the sacred story unfolding around us. In the second week of Advent, we come face-to-face with a longing that sits in every human soul—the longing for peace. Not the fragile kind the world offers, the kind that flickers when the news turns dark or when relationships get strained, but the strong, steady peace that God Himself brings.
When the angels appeared to the shepherds, they didn’t shout, “Try harder!” or “Hold it together!” Their message was simple and stunning: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace…” Peace was God’s gift, not humanity’s achievement. It arrived wrapped not in power or politics, but in a Person—a child laid in a manger, vulnerable yet victorious, humble yet holy. The second candle of Advent glows with the reminder that peace is not something we manufacture; it is Someone we receive.
We don’t need much imagination to understand why the world needs peace. Every headline reminds us that fear, division, and uncertainty are constant companions in a broken world. But Advent declares that Jesus stepped straight into that brokenness. He didn’t wait for the world to calm down; He entered it while it was still chaotic, violent, and restless.
Isaiah called Him the Prince of Peace—not the prince of escape, not the prince of distraction, but the Prince of shalom. When Jesus came, he didn’t merely hush the noise around us—He heals the turmoil within us.
If we’re honest, the deepest battles usually don’t happen somewhere else; they happen inside us: anxiety that steals sleep, regrets that whisper at night, busyness that drains joy, conflict that robs relationships of gentleness. Advent peace speaks right into these hidden places. Jesus didn’t come so we could pretend to be peaceful; He came so we could actually have peace.
In John 14:27, He promises, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart.” His peace is not the temporary calm that depends on ideal circumstances. His peace can stand in the middle of storms, sit in waiting rooms, and walk through grief. His peace isn’t fragile; His presence fortifies it.
Peace doesn’t stop with us; it flows through us. The world is desperate for peacemakers—people who bring gentleness where others bring heat, grace where others bring judgment, and patience where others bring frustration. Christ’s peace slows our reactions, shapes our words, and teaches us to see people through God’s compassionate eyes.
To “walk in peace” doesn’t mean avoiding difficult conversations or pretending conflict doesn’t exist. It means carrying the presence of Jesus into those moments, allowing His Spirit to guide, settle, and shape us. Peace becomes not a feeling but a way of living.
Peace is not far away. Peace is near. Peace has a name. And His name is Jesus.
Discussion Questions:
- Jesus said, “My peace I give to you.” What is the difference between His peace and the peace the world tries to offer? How have you experienced that difference?