Just over two thousand years ago, a small group of shepherds on the outskirts of Bethlehem heard the angelic announcement of Jesus’ birth. “Glory to God in the highest,” the angels sang, “and on earth peace and good will toward men.” That pronouncement of peace from heaven continues to ring in countless Christmas carols sung even today. Those words are among the best known from the Bible. But many who hear those words miss its full meaning.
The Missing Piece to the Puzzle
The shepherds who first heard the angels sing likely used that same word for “peace” a dozen times each day. Ancient and modern Jews alike use the word “shalom,” which means peace, in their daily greetings. It’s like saying, “Hello, I wish you well.” This powerful little word combines a greeting with a wish for well-being and peace. It’s something those shepherds would have said to each person they passed on their way to their fields. But the word is mightier than even this.
Peace, for these ancient shepherds, was not just about the absence of anxiety or conflict. When a person possessed peace, it meant that they were whole. They lacked for nothing, both individually and as a community. Peace meant your life and your community were complete and had all their needs met. When the shepherds heard that song, they knew the angels were telling them that the missing peace they and their people had lacked for generations had finally come.
Peace Is a Promise God Will Keep
Some time ago I remember standing in line at the grocery store knowing that I was about to drain the last of my bank account. I didn’t know how the rest of my bills would be paid that month. As I loaded my items onto the conveyor belt, I decided to leave a box of diapers on the bottom rack of my cart. I knew I could roll them out of the store and nobody would likely notice that I didn’t pay for them. But as soon as I made this decision I heard a voice in my head.
“Trust me,” the voice said.
It was a short but clear message. And I had no doubt in my mind that this was God. I immediately remembered all the times that God had provided for me in the past. I decided to trust him. Sure enough, it wasn’t a month later that my financial situation made a turn for the better.
God Sets His Own Schedule
Very often God’s promises do not take the shape that we expect. He answers prayers in unexpected ways and on his own time. It was Adam and Eve, in the book of Genesis, who had to wait the longest to see God keep a promise. They were the first to disobey God. But in the same conversation in which God laid out the consequences of their failures, he also gave them a promise. He told them that one day someone would be born who would crush evil and take away the sting of death.
For thousands of years, people waited for this promise to take shape. It wasn’t until that day when the angels sang that this savior was born and the path to forgiveness was finally realized.
Both You and Others
When the angels sang about peace on earth, they were not just giving a friendly greeting. They were reminding those shepherds of a promise that God had made and was now fulfilling. A promise that was applied to the whole human race, all the earth. Whatever you lack and whatever hole you have in your life, Jesus is the answer to your incompleteness. He is the Prince of Peace and the fulfillment of all that we need from God.
You may not see your prayers answered today, next month, or even in your lifetime. But when in doubt, remember the Christmas story. God promised to rescue any person who would believe him. Through Jesus, he keeps that promise. And if he can keep a promise that big, you can trust he knows what you need in your shopping cart.
For more on this topic, order your own copy of “I Choose Peace” an I Am Second book by Doug Bender. Discover the stories of how God brought peace to the lives of those who trusted him.