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Anxiety, stress, and isolation are rampant in the world today, but they are not new to the human condition. Isaiah 9 is a well-known prophetic word, but this poem begins in darkness, which most likely is a reference to the Assyrian invasion and deportation of Israel in 733 BC. For Isaiah’s original audience, the light was coming. “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

The word for peace is “shalom”, which means wholeness or being complete. This is peace that puts an end to famine, war, and corrupt governments and dictators. This is peace on earth. In due time, Jesus will bring peace to the planet. All of this will happen at Jesus’ second advent…when He returns!

In the meantime, we must remember the Word as we walk through this life. We must remember that if we are a follower of Jesus Christ, we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that will bring us a “peace that passes understanding”. (Phil 4:6-7)

Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 2:14 says, “For he himself is our peace”. John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Anxiety involves fear or worry about things that you can’t control. Remember, Jesus said in Matthew 28, “I will be with you always”.

If you feel anxious:

1. Remember that Satan’s native tongue is lying, so LISTEN TO THE TRUTH.
2. Satan isolates, so LIVE IN COMMUNITY
3. TALK TO THE FATHER
4. TALK TO SOMEONE (Counseling is an amazing resource)

Questions

1. Where do you find yourself trying to control and order your life? Is it your career, your kids, your stuff? All of it? How does this create anxiety in you?
2. What do you need to let go of and allow the Holy Spirit to give you peace?
3. Read your advent book this week as we walk through stories and encouragement regarding peace.

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Advent means “arrival” or “coming”, and we are currently living between the advent of Jesus’ first coming and His promised return. During this time, we wait. To wait for something means to hope for it. Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Roughly 700 years later, we see this prophecy unfold! In Luke 2:25-35 we see that Simeon “was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.” Simeon went to the temple courts just as the baby Jesus had been brought in. Simeon takes Jesus in his arms and praises God for keeping His promise.

Anna is a prophetess who is there at this time as well. She was in the temple for decades, but in verse 38 it says, “And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem”. Anna waits….hopes….watches, looking forward to God’s promise of living her life.

Too often, we associate waiting with boredom. Our culture is fast-paced, and we don’t have the patience to wait for much. Waiting often feels like a disservice or inconvenience, but there is so much good in waiting too. We learn the discipline of patience.

Jeremiah was a prophet who preached for 40 years with NO response. It had to be demoralizing. In Lamentations 3:16-27, while penning this funeral dirge for Israel, Jeremiah is choosing to remember the good. He is preaching the gospel to himself. He says in verse 21, “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.”

Romans 8:24-25 says, “Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we don not see, we wait for it with patience.” Hope isn’t a “thing”. Hope has a name, and His name is Jesus Christ!

Questions:

1. What are you waiting for right now? What do you hope happens when that time comes?
2. As we are waiting for Jesus’ second coming, what are some things we need to focus on?
3. In this world that is full of loneliness, where do you find community?
4. Read your Advent Book. You can view it online and enjoy daily readings with this link.

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