My Dear Readers,

Do you ever feel a lot of joy and happiness waiting for Christmas, only to feel sad and let down once the presents are unwrapped and the lights come down? Advent is meant to do the opposite. It’s meant to give us hope and encouragement when we’re feeling worn down by the struggles and uncertainty of the past year. Immanuel – God is with us. The miracle of Christmas means we are not living apart from God, and through Jesus’ birth, we have hope, peace, joy, and love.

The Meaning in Advent’s Second Week
There is great symbolism in the second week of Advent! In our wreaths, we light the Peace candle, also called the Bethlehem candle, to remember the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and the challenges they faced. Their story shows us that peace doesn’t always come from the absence of challenges or hardship. True peace comes through faith, humility, and trusting in God’s presence and plan.

Trust in God’s Plan

Mary, a young, unmarried woman, faced disgrace upon finding herself pregnant. Joseph, too, struggled in his decision to stand by Mary. The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was difficult, as they likely traveled by foot and perhaps with the help of a donkey for Mary. Due to the terrain and pace of travel, and Mary’s need for rest, the trip could have taken them a week to several days to complete. Preparing for the birth of Jesus required sacrifice and discomfort for Mary and Joseph, but God’s message is that He will take care of us when we’re fulfilling His plan.

Peace During Adversity

After traveling for days and many miles, Mary and Joseph needed a comfortable place to rest and for Mary to give birth. Our all-powerful God could have arranged a majestic setting for the birth of His son or provided a comfortable room for Mary at the inn. But He chose a stable in a quiet, humble town, and the newly born Jesus was laid in a feeding trough for the animals. God’s message is that Peace can be found in the humble, and during hardships or discomfort. True peace comes from the confident belief in God’s promises. Even in our toughest times, God is with us, watching over us. He wants to prosper us, not hurt us, so He will bring something good out of anything we face.

This week, I invite you to think about Jesus’ gift of peace to draw you closer to him, and how we can shine the light of peace to others.

Ideas for Embracing Peace:

• Let Go of Stress and Anxiety: When your mind begins to worry or feel stress, remind yourself that you’re not living apart from God. He loves you deeply and will help you.
• Unplug and Unwind: Find time to unplug and sit quietly with God, remembering His promises. Let Him fill you with peace, knowing that He is faithful, and His promises are true.
• Forgiveness: Whether it’s for yourself or someone else, offer forgiveness. Great peace can be found when we let go of past mistakes through feeling empathy and extending grace.
• Be Generous with Kindness: Offer strangers a smile and kind greeting, let someone go ahead of you in line, or simply offer a listening ear to spread peace and goodwill.

God has a rich plan for our lives, and we find peace by believing in His promises. May this week be filled with peace knowing you are loved and cared for.

Verses for the Week

Philippians 4:7 (Amp)

 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].

Isaiah 26:3: (NIV)

You, Lord, give true peace. You give peace to those who depend on you. You give peace to those who trust you.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Ecclesiastes 4:3-7: (Amp)

3 There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven—

² A time to be born and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.

³ A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.

⁴ A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.

⁵ A time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.

⁶ A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.

⁷ A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to keep silent and a time to speak.

⁸ A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.