For to us a child is born, 
    to us a son is given, 
    and the government will be on his shoulders. 
And he will be called 
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Of the greatness of his government and peace 
    there will be no end. 
He will reign on David’s throne 
    and over his kingdom, 
establishing and upholding it 
    with justice and righteousness 
    from that time on and forever. 
The zeal of the Lord Almighty 
    will accomplish this. 

Isaiah 9:6-7 

Peace.  

Something our souls deeply long for. A concept that often feels out of reach. An idea that is often misunderstood.  

The second week of Advent focuses on the peace Jesus brings into the world. When we think of peace, we often picture it as some sort of lack- lack of conflict, lack of unwanted change, or lack of stressors. We think peace will come when our kids fight less, when we lose the extra weight, when we can spend less time stressing over finances. When the medical issue is taken away, when we don’t lose sleep over political strife, or when there is less on our overfilled schedules, then peace will find us. 

But Jesus, the Prince of Peace, did not come to take away, but rather to give. Peace is not merely removing the barriers that cause very real strife in our lives, but ushering us into a new reality filled with abundant life. The Hebrew word for peace, used throughout the Old Testament is shalom. Shalom is a term used to encompass “the way things are meant to be.” Shalom is not only removing the difficulties in life, but going above and beyond to establish a different reality altogether. From the beginning, God has been working to bring about a world brimming with truth and beauty, goodness and justice, the way God always intended life to be.  

Clearly, that reality is not yet fully established in our world. War and strife, injustice and economic disparity, broken relationships and fear of what is to come still darken our days. But this is not our final reality! The Prince of Peace has come into the world and is making all things new. Jesus invites us to participate with him in this work. Our United4Hope partnerships are agents of peace in communities throughout metro Nashville. Churches and schools partner together to bring about shalom in the lives of students and families. Working together, they help shape a new reality for students- a reality marked by love and care, access to resources, and filled with promise for the future.  

This Advent, may the Prince of Peace reign in your heart. May you rest in the fact that beyond the hardships of today, there is an even truer truth upholding you- Peace. Shalom. A promise that God will set things right and transform life into the way it was always meant to be.