Silent night. Holy night. All is calm. All is bright. Oh, those sweet words of Silent Night. What a serene picture they paint of the night of Christ’s birth. They evoke feelings of deep peace and awe, reverence and wonder at the miracle of our Savior, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. What a picture of love – that the very Son of God would leave His Heavenly throne to become a baby, lead a sinless life, and eventually become our saving grace through his sacrifice on the cross and miraculous resurrection.
But I wonder how peaceful that night really was. After all, we cannot forget the other parts of the story. Joseph urgently searching for a room at a Bethlehem inn for his expectant wife, all to no avail. Hurriedly preparing a makeshift bed of hay in a stable of animals for Mary to deliver her child. And Joseph acting as midwife as Mary labored in pain to deliver the Son of God. Then later, shepherds crowding around to see the Christ child, come from the fields where a chorus of heavenly host sang out the good news: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14 NIV)
One could say that there were some stressful elements to the night of Jesus’ birth. In fact, if Mary and Joseph didn’t step back to take it all in, they could have become so distracted by certain circumstances that they missed out on the miracle right in front of them. But scripture tells us that, “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19 NIV) She focused her attention on what mattered most – the glory of God come down to earth. That’s what made the night holy. That’s what brought peace and calm and an inner sense of security in God’s love.
Are you looking for peace in your own life? Perhaps you’re going through a season of stressful circumstances, or a loss, or hardship. Maybe this Christmas looks different for you. I know it does for me. I have great joy in celebrating the birth of Jesus, and I look forward to making Christmas memories with my husband, David, for our first Christmas as a married couple this year. But my heart is also breaking for the loss of my beloved Nana, Holly, who was also born on Christmas Day, and who went to heaven to be with the Lord just five days before Christmas this year. For me and my family, the season is tinged with sadness, but also filled with the hope in knowing that we’ll see her again in Heaven one day.
And isn’t that the true reason we celebrate Christmas? The hope and joy and deep peace in knowing we are extravagantly loved by our Heavenly Father, and because of our Savior Jesus, we have eternity to look forward to. It’s my hope that whatever this season looks like for you, that you can find peace this Christmas. It may not be a silent night, and everything may not be bright, but I hope you’ll take the time to treasure up the love God has for you: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV) Merry Christmas!!
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16