God brings peace in the midst of worries, troubles and disappointments

What are your worries right now? Is there something that keeps you awake at night? Is there a hurt that causes your heart to ache? Does the future hold problems for which you don’t have solutions? Is peace more a hope than a reality?

The stores say we are in the Christmas season. During Christmas, it seems everyone remembers the promise of the angels, “peace on earth.” We may hope for peace, but too often the regular problems of life only become even more worrisome with the high expectations and frantic schedules of the Christmas season.

I have heard people long for the peace of that first Christmas. They think about a young married couple, shepherds in the fields and a baby born in a stable. Today that story seems peaceful. The Christmas carol even sings of heavenly peace. We wish or hope that this Christmas might bring us the peace of a trouble-free life. Sometimes when work stops and family gathers and worship points us to Jesus, we experience a time of respite from our problems.

But please think with me again about Joseph. That first Christmas was not trouble free for him. Even though Joseph was getting married, life was not necessarily all anticipation and joy. Instead, Joseph’s world was full of problems larger than himself. Matthew 1:18 says, “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.”

The people of Joseph’s day took God’s plan for sex and marriage seriously, even though the people couldn’t always live according to God’s standards. For Mary to be pregnant before she and Joseph were married was a public disgrace. Joseph tried to deal with this situation in an honorable way, but no matter what he did the results were less than what Joseph had hoped and planned for his family. Imagine trying to explain to others that the baby was conceived by the Holy Spirit. But sending Mary away meant there would be no marriage and no family.

That first Christmas was not trouble free for Joseph, but actually added more problems to his struggle. In fact, even the birth of Jesus did not solve all of Joseph’s problems either, but it did help. And Jesus’ birth brought promise and hope.

You see, the child Mary bore was Jesus, the son of God. Matthew 1:21 tells us that an angel told Joseph about this child: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

You see, the child born to Mary was God who came to live in this world and take the sin and troubles of this world on himself. Joseph may face danger and trouble, but God cared enough to share those problems in Jesus. Joseph may have struggled with life’s disappointments throughout his days on this earth, but Jesus, the son of Mary and the son of God, was not only born in a stable, but he also died and rose to win eternal life in heaven and final peace for Joseph and for all who believe in him.

Do you long for peace this Christmas? Do you hope for help with your worries, aches and pains? Come to Jesus. He came to this world to take your pain and your sin on himself. He has won eternal life in heaven for you when life here is over. Jesus came to save people from their sins and their troubles. When we receive the gift of Jesus again this Christmas, God brings peace even in the midst of our worries, troubles and disappointments.

Jonathan Rockey is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer. Contact him at jonrock53@mtaonline.net.

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