THE SETUP
"I know what I'm gonna do tomorrow, and the next day, and next year, and the year after that." – George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life
Probably the most well-known Christmas movie is It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s the story of a guy named George Bailey who has big dreams that never seem to come true. His plans for tomorrow, the next day, and the next year are constantly interrupted by that thing we call reality. But George keeps dreaming and convincing himself that one day he is going to get to go all the places and do all the things he has planned. Someday.
But (spoiler alert) that time never comes. And there is an angst, a restlessness that comes over him. Eventually, his despair pushed him to consider taking his life. But an angel intervenes, and George sees the good in his life and the people that are a part of it. It’s a Christmas movie after all, so of course, it ends on a good note.
For a lot of people, the holidays can highlight or amplify the disappointments they have gone through or the anxiety they feel. Here’s the bad news, an angel named Clarence is probably not going to show up and help you find perspective. Now here’s the good news – one of the things the birth of Jesus brought into our world is peace of heart and mind. The Apostle Paul describes it as, “peace which exceeds anything we can understand.” May you experience Jesus’ peace during this Advent season.
PASSAGE TO READ
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What does Paul encourage us to do and not do with our worry and anxiety in Philippians 4:6
What do you think it means that God wants to give us a peace that is beyond our understanding? How can we experience peace of heart and mind without our situation changing.
When you read the list of things to “think about” in verse 8, how could that be of help to you this holiday season?
PRAYER IDEA
“Lord – I want to bring you my worries, the things that rob me of peace. I believe you want to give me peace of mind and heart this Christmas. When I am stressed or restless, help me to give those things to you and to fill my mind with things that are true, honorable, and praiseworthy. Fill me with your peace. Amen.”