” For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV

 Did your family celebrate Advent? Advent is a season of reflection in preparation for Christmas. Perhaps you didn’t grow up in a home that paid attention to spiritual preparation for December 25. Perhaps it was all about the food and the presents and the parties in your home. Sunday church was important to my family, but there wasn’t much reflection going on at home. Tom’s family had an Advent wreath in their home, and we carried that tradition into our family. Now that our kids are on their own, Tom and I still light the candles in our Advent wreath each Sunday of the season and spend time reflecting on the themes of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love contained in the first coming of Jesus to earth and pointing toward His expected return.

Advent is full of expectation. Waiting, longing, hoping for light in the darkness of winter. Looking back to Israel’s longing for the Messiah to come. Looking ahead to creation’s longing for its King to appear and set all things right.

My thoughts this week are on the theme of peace — Shalom – the restoration of all things. Every relationship. Every broken body. Every fractured peace in the world. All things. ALL THINGS set right. Life as it was meant to be from the very beginning. Life as God designed it to be.

 Longing for restoration. Longing for peace. It doesn’t just exist during Advent, does it? That is where humans live. We live in a space of longing for life to be the way it was meant to be.

Where do you need peace in your life? What needs to be restored? Faith that God really does love you? Hope that relationships will be mended? Trust that everything you need will be provided? Vision of a future that you thought was lost?

Longing for something can be a dark and lonely thing, unless you are longing with the expectation that it will happen. That is the definition of hope. Longing with expectation.

Peace grows with hope. They co-exist and grow as one. Peace is about the restoration of hope and hope restores peace. Hope brings the settled sense of restoration. It puts my thoughts and emotions back in order. It stops the swirling of worry. Like blowing snow that settles as the wind dies down. Hope brings a restoration of order. Shalom. Peace.

Dear Friend, you may be in the throes of a storm right now. Your emotions may be swirling. But I encourage you that your peace can be restored as your hope grows. Expect that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the Prince of Wholeness as the Message version of the Bible says, will restore all things. The conflicts that cover the earth and loom over your life will be resolved. The relationships that seem beyond repair will result in love. I can’t tell you what that will look like or how that will happen, but I can tell you that the restoration and resolution you are looking for can start with you. The thing about shalom is that when you allow it to reside in you, you bring it to others.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart. (Colossians 3:15) Then you bring that restoration of peace to all those you touch. Isn’t that what you are really longing for?

Key Question: Where do you need peace to be restored in you?

A Scripture to Consider: ”For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.“ Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV

A YES Challenge: Take some time to be honest with yourself about what is broken in your life. Focus on one area where you want to experience God’s peace. Ask Him to fill you with hope for that one area.  

Prayer: Father, I am broken. My life is broken. My relationships are broken. This world is broken. Sometimes I am more aware of it than others. The idyllic images associated with the Christmas season highlight the actual brokenness of life. I need Your restoration in my life. I need Your Shalom — peace, the restoration of all things. I need You to make right what I can’t. Fill me with hope, longing with expectation that You will do it. Give me hope for the restoration of all that is broken in my life so that I can receive Your peace. Amen.