Peace Made Lasting
Have you ever looked put-together on the outside while feeling like you’re unraveling inside? I think most of us have.
Colossians describes life apart from Christ as being “alienated… enemies in your minds” (Col. 1:21). Not evil people—just disconnected people. People trying to hold themselves together without God.
So we try strategies:
self-protection
control
perfectionism
becoming the “strong” version of ourselves
But often the person we’re wrestling most is the one brushing their teeth in our mirror.
And here is the liberating truth: we were never meant to hold ourselves together. Christ alone has that power. No amount of holiday cheer or frantic self-improvement can glue us back together.
Peace doesn’t come wrapped under the tree.
Peace comes wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Why Our Efforts Fall Short
Benjamin Franklin once attempted an experiment to become morally perfect, tracking thirteen virtues week by week. But he discovered something surprising: “I found myself so much fuller of faults than I had imagined.”
Franklin teaches us the frustration of trying to fix ourselves.
Then there is the Greek myth of Sisyphus. Having offended the other gods he was consigned to forever pushing the stone uphill only to watch it roll back down.
Trying to fix ourselves, try harder, etc. always leads to the frustration of watching the boulder roll back down the hill. It is futile.
We cannot push ourselves into peace.
Peace is not achieved by effort; peace is received through reconciliation.
The Miracle of Christ’s Peace
Scripture says, “Because Christ died, God has brought you back to Himself” (Col. 1:22).
That is reconciliation—God removing everything that stands between us and Him.
Bethlehem is opening note of God’s symphony of grace -- God drawing near.
Calvary is the crescendo – the poignant
The empty tomb is the finale. As the final note fades, the postlude begins as the angels sing, “Peace on earth.”
For the first time since Eden, peace with God is possible.
The Surprising Doorway into Peace
Peace comes through surrender. Not the crushing surrender of defeat—but the joyful surrender of being loved.
Jesus prayed, “Your will be done.” We often pray, “Lord, I have some excellent suggestions.”
But love leads us to trust, trust leads us to yield, and yielding opens the door to peace.
A Peace Big Enough for the World
Isaiah 11 imagines a world where creation is made whole again under a Spirit-filled King.
Matthew 3 shows John the Baptist crying from the wilderness, “Prepare the way!”
Not “fix yourself.”
Not “get it together.”
But open your heart.
Make room.
If Christ can bring peace to our hearts, then—and only then—is there hope of peace in our world.
Advent’s Invitation
Christmas preparation is not ultimately about decorations, menus, or gifts.
The real preparation happens in the heart.
Where are you restless?
Where are you fractured?
What are you trying to hold together on your own?
What needs to be surrendered so Christ can reconcile and steady you?
Colossians says, “Continue in your faith… do not move from the hope held out in the gospel” (1:23).
Peace is not a feeling you chase.
Peace is a Person you hold onto.
And He has come to you.
Reflection Prompts for the Week
Where do I feel most divided or unsettled right now?
What might that inner war be revealing about my need for God?What strategies do I use to cope—control, perfectionism, avoiding, overworking?
How are they failing to give me peace?Where is God inviting me to surrender instead of striving?
What might “Your will be done” look like in one specific area?What would it look like to prepare “a way” in my heart for Christ this Advent?
Action Steps for Advent
1. Pray a simple daily prayer of peace
“Christ, my peace—hold me together today.”
2. Set aside ten minutes of silence this week.
Let the noise settle. Let God speak into your restlessness.
3. Name what you need to surrender.
Write it in a journal. Release it to God.
If you’re longing for a deeper peace—peace with God, peace within, and peace with others—I invite you to join us for worship this Sunday. We’ll take the next step on our Advent journey and explore how joy can grow even in imperfect lives like ours.
Come as you are. Come with your hopes and your questions.
Come and discover the joy Christ is still planting in the hearts of those who make room for Him.