Celebrating the Prince of Peace

 

If you’ve been in church circles for a while, you would have heard Isaiah’s prophecy about the Christ child many times.

‘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.’ (Isaiah 9:6)

The word translated as ‘peace’ in Isaiah 9:6 is ‘shalom’. Jewish people often use it as a greeting, but it has a broader meaning of ‘peace, completeness, welfare, well-being and prosperity’. A real blessing.

Yet many aren’t at peace this Christmas. The war is still going on in Ukraine and there are numerous hotspots around the world where violence and death are daily occurrences. Closer to home, we have just experienced our greatest terrorist attack on Australian soil, with the horrendous mass shootings during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach. Many also experience a lack of peace in their relationships with family, friends and colleagues; while others struggle with internal peace.

Has the Prince of Peace forgotten us? Is He powerless to stop the evil in the world and soothe our souls?

 A resounding, ‘No’! 

He has already won the battle over the powers of darkness and He is still active in our world. He still longs for us to experience His shalom.

Peace with God

First and foremost, Jesus came into the world to seek and save the lost. We were far away from God, but Jesus died in our place as a sacrifice for our sins. If we put our trust in Him, we have peace with God and a new life through Him now and in eternity.

 

Peace in the World

Not many of us are in a position to directly affect world politics or engage in peace talks with feuding nations. However, we have God’s promise that one day there will be peace. In the Good News translation of the Bible, the section from verses 1 to 9 of Isaiah 11 has the subheading ‘The Peaceful Kingdom’. Jesus ‘will rule His people with justice and integrity’, and one day even ‘wolves and sheep will live together in peace’ (verses 5-6).

 

Peace with Others

Jesus has also given us a blueprint for living in peace with others. Confess our sins to one another, seek forgiveness and reconciliation where possible, see others as valuable in the eyes of God and treat them accordingly, serve others’ interests rather than our own, and so much more. We often fail, and sometimes the other person won’t budge, but their reaction is between them and God. As Paul urges us in Romans 12:18: ‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone’.

 

Peace Within Ourselves

When we look at the challenges we’re facing or consider the troubles in the world around us, it’s not easy to feel at peace. But the good news is that we don’t have to face our anxieties or fears by ourselves. Jesus wants us to have peace and He has given His Holy Spirit to help us. 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27). 

It is not what the world views as peace. It is God’s peace—a peace that is beyond our human understanding (Philippians 4:7).

Final Thoughts

As writers, we have a unique opportunity to use our words to spread the message of peace and reconciliation that comes through our Lord Jesus Christ. You might like to pray through the Prayer of St Francis of Assisi, which reminds us that we are God's instruments; or offer God another prayer from your heart. May Jesus empower us with His Holy Spirit so we can partner with Him in bringing hope and healing to a hurting world. This Christmas, let's be channels of His peace as we celebrate the birth of our precious Saviour—the Prince of Peace.

 

 Sources

Main photo by Congerdesign on Pixabay. Author photo by Wayne Logan from Encouraging Photos.

Definition of  'shalom' from Lexical study on Bible Hub.

All scriptures taken from the New International Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated.

Author Bio

Nola Lorraine has a passion for faith and social justice issues, and loves weaving words that inspire others with courage and hope. Her books include the inspirational historical novel Scattered, the Christian devotional book Comfort Zone, and the Christian charity anthology Glimpses of Light which she co-edited with Jeanette O’Hagan. She also has more than 150 short publications, including fiction, poetry, devotions, true stories, magazine articles and academic papers. She loves sharing the words and stories God impresses on her heart, and prays that He will use them to bless others.

 

Yep, times have changed

 

During a recent Grandparents’ Day at our youngest granddaughter’s school, I was definitely made to feel my age when her class asked what school was like for us.

‘We sat on forms – long wooden seats – behind long wooden desks that had holes for inkwells,’ I explained. ‘When we practised handwriting in our copybooks, we would use a pen and nib and dip the nib into the ink. We had to be careful not to make a big blot on the page!’

Their eyes rounded. But at least they did not ask the same question our granddaughter once asked me: ‘Nanna, when you were at school, did you use one of those things like a feather? Was it called a quill?’ Hmm. Imagine our grandchildren’s disbelief too when I showed them a small slate my father made me and a slate pencil I used in my first year of school in Queensland in the fifties!

We may complain about aspects of producing our manuscripts today as writers, but at least we do not have to use a quill and ink as Charles Dickens did – or my great-great-grandfather’s brother, R D Blackmore, as he wrote Lorna Doone in 1869! How did they do it? I well remember how long it took to write and rewrite by hand my many essays at university in the late 1960s. Thankfully, by the time I returned to study in the 1980s and again in the 1990s, things had changed. By then, we had a huge, old desktop computer at home – yay!

Things have changed too in the area of book promotion since the 1990s. When my first novel Heléna was released in 2007, while online promotion was vital (Amazon arrived in 1994 and Facebook in 2004), my then publisher ensured my novel also featured in the printed Christian bookstore catalogues mailed to subscribers, as well as in printed Christian magazines. Now the picture has changed indeed. These days, whether we have a traditional publisher or choose to self-publish, we need to be enthusiastic, innovative self-starters, willing to promote our own books as much as we can and to be as tech-savvy as we can.

Yep, times have changed – and those of us who are older may find this a challenge. Yet it is also interesting and even exciting to keep learning new things, don’t you think? And what a bonus too that, at the click of a button, we can promote our books far and wide rather than rely on print advertising only or word of mouth! But most wonderful of all to me is the fact that God surely did not make a mistake when calling us to write at this exact time in history. What a privilege, whatever the challenge, to be Christian authors in 2025 and beyond!

In the light of this then, could I suggest you take a moment now to stop, put your hands in your lap, breathe deeply and remember the Lord is with you and in you right where you are? Sit back and rest in his loving presence. Then, before moving on, thank him that he knows you intimately, has given you the desire and ability to write and will never leave you, whatever twists and turns your writing journey may take. The Lord is so faithful. May we in turn be faithful writers for him.

Jo-Anne Berthelsen is a Sydney-based author of seven novels and four non-fiction works. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked in teaching, editing and local church ministry. Jo-Anne loves encouraging others through both the written and spoken word and is a keen blogger. Jo-Anne’s books, including her latest, God Moments, is available via her website, Koorong Books and Amazon.