Peace Will Be Still

It was a fairly quiet night. All was fairly calm, but the lights were dimmed down in the cabin. Only my one reading light shone bright.

My dear man and I were flying from Atlanta through Denver on our way home, and the plane was packed. We each had been assigned the middle seat two rows apart.

As we ascended I realized the altitude and cabin pressure was taking a drastic toll on my already clogged sinus cavities. And within a short period of time, I realized my only mode of effective breathing was through my mouth.

Though all around me was calm and quiet, a bit of anxiety built within my heart and mind. As much as I tried not to be that person, and tried not to be offensive to the passengers elbow to elbow with me on either side, I had one constant mantra playing through my mind, “Just breathe – in and out.”

Keeping my husband’s handkerchief close to my nose and mouth, I looked for a way to remain calm, and at peace with my circumstances for the next 3 and a half hours. Digging into my backpack, I pulled out my journal and the precious little book I’ve been re-reading, The Way Of The Heart by Henri Nouwen.

”When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”“
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I read about the monks of old, the desert fathers, who had been called by God to a life of solitude. Each said yes to God, and each one left their regular life behind. I reflected on the high price each one paid in an attempt to live obedient to God, and was convicted by my desire for ease and luxury.

Thankfully the flight attendants appeared, and I received the long hoped for cup of hot water. Immediately I added a tea bag of soothing Sleepy Time given by Mom before saying our ‘see you laters’. I simply sat with my nose as close to the steam as possible, and tried my best to breathe. After several moments, I realized that I was beginning to relax and feel the peace of God.

Next I opened my YouVersion Bible app, which gratefully works without having to purchase internet access. My reading for that particular December day was Matthew 2 and Luke 2. As I read the living and active words of God, and just remembered to breathe, I was reminded that the glorious birth of the Prince of Peace was surrounded by distress, anxiety, and the need to flee from evil into the safe, but uncomfortable isolation God provided for the safety of His Son.

”So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.“
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭21‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Evil would not win! You see, God had a plan from the beginning. He was already implementing His rescue mission, and failure was not an option. However, God’s grand campaign to bring redemption to the lost world meant that flesh and blood people had to listen and obey.

The Savior of the world was entrusted to the care of mere mortals like you and me. God was with Mary and Joseph, and His beloved Son, Jesus. They were covered in God’s favor, grace, and protection, but they still had to live as refugees for a number of years. God’s salvation plan included much hardship and sacrifice for a young couple who had been chosen as special agents.

Our plane landed in Denver. My head was completely clogged and my ears would not pop. Trying to gather myself, the woman on my left opened her window shade to reveal the most gorgeous orange and purple sunset behind the Rockies. She said,“Isn’t it gorgeous?”, while snapping pictures and I nodded in agreement.

The man to my right mentioned that he saw me reading my Bible app. I nodded and tried not to breathe in his direction. He said he noticed because he was reading his Bible app too. Turned out that he is a pastor missionary to Guatemala and was traveling to meet with a supporting congregation in Bozeman, Montana. Through a croaky voice I blessed him in his ministry to preach the Gospel around the world.

Then I realized God had me right there in the middle seat. Neither person to my left or right had be offended. They were gracious and kind at the end. God, in my moments of discomfort, had covered me with His grace and peace. And I was blessed by the grace, peace and gratitude of strangers.

It was true for Mary and Joseph, and for the early monks, the desert fathers, and it’s true still for us today. Sometimes to fully welcome the Messiah into our lives means allowing Him into the unpleasant, unredeemed and hidden places of our hearts. Maybe this Christmas Jesus is calling some of us to flee evil. Perhaps our uncomfortable and unfamiliar circumstances, our feelings of missing out and loneliness are an invitation to be hidden in the secret place where He dwells with us.

”When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.“
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭39‬-‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Maybe peace is hard to find in your circumstances. Yet I know that if you, like me, call out to Jesus, the Prince of Peace, He will meet us right where we are, and He will create the peace we need to just keep breathing in and out. He is God. He is with us. He is Immanuel.

Peace will be still and know that He is God. Will you join me in seeking Jesus as Prince of Peace this Christmas? Know that I am praying for you this Christmas season.

Live love brightly,

Lisa