Isaiah 43:1-3
The world is a very scary place. It always has been. Nations war against nations. Ideologies clash. Conflicts appear to be everywhere. People disagree. Even when people agree on a common goal, they cannot seem to agree on how to accomplish it. We even have conflicts among ourselves and within ourselves, such as family disputes and personal health issues.
And yet we yearn for peace, a desire that exists in every human being. Where can we go to find this peace? What kind of peace are we seeking? Are we seeking the type that comes from treaties, compromises, contracts, handshakes? These all seem to have a tendency to collapse. The peace we really need comes from within. So, how do we attain it?
The scripture passage above answers this question. We receive this inner peace from God. This passage clearly states that through all the worldly conflicts we may face, God is with us. He tells us we do not need to be afraid and then He explains why. He has redeemed us. He knows us by our name because we belong to Him.
This theme runs throughout the Bible from God’s call to Abraham in the book of Genesis all the way through the New Testament. The first words in the announcement of Jesus’ birth were, “Fear not.” WE DO NOT HAVE TO BE AFRAID ANYMORE. The Prince of Peace is here, and He brings peace to those who believe in Him.
Let us look back to Isaiah 43, but this time let us skip down to verse 5 where God very simply says, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”
During this Holy Season, let us look anew and rejoice as we celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the PRINCE OF PEACE.