I enjoy giving and receiving gifts. But, I have to say, gift exchanges can be a little stressful. I just want to make sure my gift is as valuable as the gift given to me. Of course, this is not the purpose of a gift exchange, but, all the same, I feel a little pressure. So, let me from the get-and-go make it clear that when we exchange gifts with God, He will always give us the grandeur gift, and that’s a good thing.
Yes, I like giving and receiving gifts. In fact, for many reasons, Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I like the decorations, the music, and most of the gatherings. I love Christmas Eve services. Yet, it can be stressful and worrisome this time of the year. We rush from one event to another. We frantically look for the perfect gift for our loved ones. We may stress about money and time. I have heard it said and believe it to be true that “During the Christmas season, our joys are magnified, but so too are our worries.” This may or may not surprise you; one study found that the holidays stress out 88% of Americans.
Let me give a working definition of worry: Worry is dwelling on the future without an awareness of God’s presence and workings, picturing a potentially negative outcome. Every one of us has wrestled with worry. The good news is that Christ wants us to exchange with us our worry for His peace. In Isaiah 9:6, we read of the coming Messiah (Christ), “For to 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” (Isa 9:6).
One of the descriptive titles of Christ is Prince of Peace. Jesus brings lasting peace. The use of peace as a title-description of Christ also conveys that His kingdom is characterized by peace. The Hebrew word used here for peace (shalom) indicates not only the absence of war or controversy but a condition of rich, harmonious, and positive well-being. What does this mean for the Christian? In Christ, believers are offered a future peace, as we spend eternity with Him, a challenge to bring His peace into the chaos, as we pray and live “His kingdom come His will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” and are provided the opportunity to possess His peace even amidst of all the ups and downs of life. How can we receive such peace? First, we must receive Christ as Lord and Savior, then make a significant exchange with Him.
Paul writes about the exchange of our worry for God’s peace in Philippians 4:4-9. Verses 6-7 read, “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.” These two verses have much to say about exchanging worry for peace.
To exchange worry for peace, there is something we first must understand. We cannot remove worry until we exchange it with something better. Imagine not worrying about anything. It seems like an impossibility. We all have worries at school, at work, and in our homes. Even the Scriptures instruct us that there is no guarantee against hard times and suffering. But, Paul encourages us to present our worries to God in prayer and turn our thoughts to Him.
We aren’t promised the absence of chaos on this side of paradise. But, we can be confident that God is ultimately in control and that He always hears our prayers and answers them according to what will bring Him glory, bless us, and benefit others. There seems to be a principle here. Worrying less begins with praying more. Think of it this way. Worry or peace is a decision partly made by where we choose to allow our mind to dwell and wherever or whom we place our trust. To exchange worry, we must come to realize that there is a better option found in God, who is all-powerful, faithful, and available to us.
After we come to this understanding, in order to exchange worry for peace, there is something we must do. We need to ask the Lord to exchange our worry with His peace. We need to bring all our concerns to the Lord, no matter how big or small. If it’s on our mind, it’s on God’s heart. If it matters to you, it matters to God. Coming to God in prayer, asking His Spirit to fill you with faith, trusting in the Lord, will mean that God’s peace, not a stoic lack of concern, but a deep peace amidst life’s storms, will keep guard around your heart and mind, like a squadron of soldiers looking after something of profound value.
Christ’s peace is found in the confidence and courage that comes from the believer being indwelt by His Spirit. An essential truth is that even in our trusting, we are dependent on God giving us the strength to believe. John Wesley often prayed, “Lord, evermore give us this peace!”
We can choose to exchange our worry for God’s peace. The gift exchange God offers us is immense. We bring the things we can’t control and are worrying about, and He takes the worry from us and fills us with His peace, knowing He is in control and at work and has already provided for our ultimate victory.
The birth of Christ, prophesized nearly 2,700 years ago by Isaiah, is a reality. Christ has come, provided for our salvation, and is indeed the “Prince of Peace,” offering each of us His peace today and throughout eternity. If you haven’t already, receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Trust in Him, and discover His peace. As you continue to enjoy this Christmas season, it is my hope that you will exchange your worry for peace, inviting the Prince of Peace to bring you peace everlasting. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!