Twelve
years ago on Christmas Day, I looked down at my pregnant belly with
both sadness and relief. The doctor had told me the day before
Thanksgiving my unborn baby girl would die in the womb due to severe
chromosomal defects. Yet, there I was, a few miraculous weeks later,
still carrying that sign of hope within.
Ever
since sitting in that doctor’s office, God had truly been my Prince of
Peace, filling my life with divine order and calmness. Yes, there were
dark days filled with tears and questions and prayers. Some days, I
doubted; other days, I was filled with faith. My baby’s heart kept
beating.
But between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, I lost that little 26-week-old baby.
As
I lay down on the hospital bed and prepared to deliver the baby, the
door opened, bringing what felt like the light of God into the room. The
nurse assigned to me was the exact same nurse who’d helped deliver my
first child. She knew my name. I couldn’t believe out of all the nurses
in that huge hospital, the only one who knew me was not only working
that night, she was working my room.
In
that moment, it was divine assurance that God saw me. He was with me in
my pain and sorrow. I wasn’t alone, and neither are you.
Today’s key verse from Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” When
we live in the deep darkness of disease or death, lack or oppression,
we’re not beyond hope. Light always penetrates darkness. Darkness, no
matter how deep, doesn’t stand a chance against a ray of light.
Later
in that same chapter of Scripture, Isaiah 9:6 proclaims the good news
that a child would be born, and a son given. He would be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
God stands ready to be all this to you today, whether you’re walking in soft light or deep darkness.
We
named our little baby girl Angel Rose, because she was a messenger from
God to us, and her life was both beautiful and thorny. I can honestly
say my memory of her is sweet because she taught me to trust in God like
I never have before. She taught me to be thankful for every breath of
life God gives. I experienced God’s presence in such a real way when I
was pregnant with her. The worship song Blessed Be Your Name became my anthem:
“Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering, blessed be Your name
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name.”
The more I sang and
trusted, the more God flooded into my life to give me strength. Living
in peace isn’t living problem-free. It’s living a messy life in the
presence of a living God. God can and will provide divine order in your
broken world if you invite Him into your deep darkness.
Before Christ came as a
baby, we were doomed to eternal darkness. But now we live in the light
of salvation through the messianic King. The dark gloom of judgment is
past. The bright light of salvation is ours.
Christ’s
birth doesn’t just impact all our tomorrows in eternity. His peace is
for us today. He can increase our joy right now — no matter what burden
we may carry.
Lord
Jesus, thank You for being my Prince of Peace and the Light of the
World. I trust You with my life and lift my burdens to You. You reign
forever and ever with justice and righteousness. Increase my joy today.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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