Christmas Hope for the Grieving Mom | Episode 063 with Ashlee Proffitt
The fourth title or name that the prophet Isaiah gives to this child who would be born is “prince of peace.”
What does that title help us to understand about who He is?
What does that mean for us today as hurting, broken mamas?
First, what does “prince of peace” tell us about who this Jesus is?
PRINCE OF PEACE
This word prince means: prince, ruler, leader, chief, authority
And the word peace means: peace, welfare, soundness, safety, tranquility
We know that this world, our lives, our hearts are not at peace. We don’t have to think to deeply or look to long around us to feel that. But this title is about more than simply peaceful circumstances or a world free of war or even a heart free of worry -- although it is about that too.
We see in the Bible in places like Ephesians 2:1-5 or Romans 5:10 that apart from Jesus, this Prince of Peace, we are enemies with God, at war with him in our hearts. Rebelling against Him.
But as Isaiah is reminding us here in Isaiah 9:6, this child that would be born would establish peace! He would make a way for us to no longer be at war with Him.
Romans 5:8 -- one of my favorite verses in all of Scripture says this: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
This is why this child would be born, this son given, to make peace for all of us, to make a way for our relationship to be restored to one of peace with him, no longer enmity.
And Romans 5:1 declares it to be true: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
And this peace we have is one ofdeep, abiding peace between our hearts and our Creator that cannot be taken away and is the ultimate fulfillment of Christ’s work as “Prince of Peace.”
So this child that would be born, this Immanuel would provide eternal peace but by reconciling us to Him He also now provides a peace for now through the Holy Spirit who the Bible says is our Helper.
The Holy Spirit fills our lives with love, joy and peace -- all a result of this child that the prophet Isaiah is talking about. The child that was born to die -- that we might have life here and for eternity.
And what does that mean for us today as hurting, broken mamas?
For us today, that means we have hope for a future eternity and a hope for today. A hope that is not full of fear or anxious, worry-filled hearts but instead hearts that are full of peace.
Now we know that peace doesn’t mean ‘easy’ and so many of our hearts are broken and even right now we may be full of fear and distress and chaos. But we can be reminded today that Jesus coming as a baby -- the reason we can celebrate Christmas even in the midst of hurt, is because He is the Prince of Peace who has made a way for peace to be restored for our eternity and given us help for today.
Philippians 4:6-7 says “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
No matter how big the grief feels today, we can ask for a peace that comes from the powerful love of a wise counselor, mighty God, everlasting father and prince of peace that is not dependent on our own strength or performance.
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
JOHN 14:27
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
EPHESIANS 2:14
Would the knowledge that Jesus is our Prince of Peace ignite a great love for Him in our hearts and lead us to trust Him — as we remember that He has given us peace for eternity and help for today; no matter how deep the grief feels or the worries insurmountable.
Let us remember with joy that He is a wonderful counselor, a mighty God, an everlasting father and our prince of peace.
He is our Immanuel, God with us.
FREE CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONAL
To download a simple and free daily devotional that goes along with this episode and continues throughout this series go to www.themorning.com/christmas.