Wishing you Peace in the New Year

This past year has been a great one for our family. My boys are so grown up. Our daughter is finally settling in to her own skin, so to speak. My husband's job remained stable. I rediscovered my love of writing (hence this little blog). How can 2010 top all that?

If I am honest - which I try to be, with myself and with others - the one area in my life where I most struggle is peace. True "abiding" peace. I would love to stop doubting myself. Those conversations in my head get pretty harsh sometimes. I would love to parent without regret. You know, those moments when I do one thing, knowing full well that I should be doing something else (like mid-scream wishing I could suck it all back in).

Our pastor preached on the Prince of Peace this past weekend. (See Isaiah 9:6-7) In the original Hebrew, prince is sahr, which means lord, overseer, prince. Peace is shalom, which means peace, wholeness, or complete rest. So, the prince of peace is the Lord of Wholeness. I like that!

I always imagined peace as something I can feel - a "sense" of calm deep within me. Yet, I know that life includes trouble. God has even let us know that in this life, there will be trouble. (See John 16:33) In that same verse, though, He tells us we can have peace, because He has overcome the world. Imagine the troubles of life being like a rainstorm. God's promise of peace is like the umbrella, protecting us as the storms rage around us.

When the kids drive me crazy, instead of adding thunder and lightning to the storm by raging at them, how wonderful it would be to stop, put up the umbrella of God's peace (by praying for wisdom in the situation), and then walk into the storm under His protection. I can "feel" that peace as I write.

What if, when my head fills with negative self-talk, I stop and pray, asking God to fill my thoughts with His Word? With the truth? Wow! Transformation. The storm would cease. Instantly. Jesus did that for the disciples. In a boat, they were caught in a storm. Jesus slept right through it, until they panicked and screamed for help. He woke up and with a simple command, the storm ceased (Matthew 8:24-26).

As 2009 draws to a close, I choose to begin the new year with a new peace. One that comes not from the absence of conflict. No one is so lucky. But one that comes from a confidence in knowing that God is bigger than my problems. God wants to shield me in the storm. With gratitude, I look ahead to whatever 2010 brings.