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)

During the second week of Advent, we focus on peace. When you think of peace on earth, what comes to mind? Often, we think about the absence of war or conflict. Peace of mind, peace in relationships—all can be boiled down to the calm that comes when there’s no conflict.

That is one meaning of peace, but the peace mentioned many times over in the Bible is not just the absence of conflict but also the presence of God.

We are probably all familiar with the Christmas story in the Book of Luke where the angels appear to the shepherds and proclaim, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14). Peace in the form of Jesus—God in the flesh—had come to earth.

In Isaiah 9:6, peace is attributed to Jesus when Isaiah calls him the “Prince of Peace,” and again in the Old Testament when Micah says that “he will be our peace” (Micah 5:5). In these instances, Jesus and peace are synonymous.

In Romans 5:1, Paul writes that “since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” According to this verse, our belief that Jesus is the Son of God is what allows us to be reconciled with and to have peace with God.

Finding peace in our troubled world can be a struggle. As long as we live here, we’ll never have true peace. But Jesus’s words in John 14:27 can bring us comfort: “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.”

How do you find peace when it seems like everything around you is falling apart? Jesus provided an example for us: he listened to and talked with his Father regularly in prayer, he withdrew from large crowds so that he could spend time with his Father, and he taught and practiced forgiveness.

By following his example, we can find the inner peace that seems so elusive apart from Jesus all throughout the year.

Dear Jesus, thank you for the example you gave us to find inner peace. Help us to come to you with our struggles and find the peace we need in you. Amen.