by Liane Conaway
Contributing Writer

As the holidays usher in, peace often is the last thing we experience with the hustle and bustle of the season. In my early homeschooling days I remember the stresses of preparing for my favorite time of year. Homeschooling, cooking meals, meeting family demands toppled with decorating, parties, shopping and extra baking caused a multitude of conflicting emotions.

One afternoon I raced home with a white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel when I passed the small elementary school. My only thought…’this is why kids go to school!’

Ugh! No peace, over commitment and my priorities out of whack.

Another Christmas, one quite different from any other, I held a dear friend’s hand, as she would soon meet our Lord face to face. Four children, the youngest being 2 years old would grow up without their momma who loved them so.

The grief was strong. The pain agonizing with enough tears to erupt a flowing river coupled with sadness that brought such sorrow.

But, no matter how great the pain of loss, it would not be enough to quench the surpassing peace, trusting that God was in control and He loved her more than this temporal life. This peace offered calmness, rest and tranquility.

How can peace be elusive one minute but so forth coming the next? How can we find real peace?

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
And the government shall be upon his shoulder,
And his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 ESV

In this verse Immanuel is described in his humanity and in his deity hundreds of years before His birth.   These names proclaim the highest name above all names. They proclaim His authority, His majesty, His sovereignty and that He is the Prince of Peace.

On the contrary, man cannot create peace within his own soul.

Masked well with smiles? Yes.
But within, internal unrest continues to churn.
We are not able to manufacture true peace on our own.
Real peace has a cost.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
For he himself is our peace…”
Ephesians 2:13-14 

His selfless act of love humbled Himself to death on a cross and became our peace on Calvary.  Peace with God could not happen until the fullness of the Godhead made peace with death.

The cost of peace is death.

The blood spilt cross means we have access to God through Jesus. As believers in Christ we have access to run to the One who is Peace. We find peace in Him, receive it and then pass it on to others.

Interestingly, part of the definition of peace means to reciprocate. If we go to Jesus, remembering the cost He paid on our behalf than we in turn reciprocate what He’s given to us. Peace.

This is how we find peace in the messiness of life, whether a dear friend prepares to meet her Maker or the busyness squelches the joy, peace is found only in Jesus.

This Christmas remember that our peace was born in a manger.

He would grow up to become the Prince of Peace who would pay the price of peace for you. It is simply amazing. Go…Meet With Jesus!

Know that He is the Wonderful Counselor, who wisely counsels through the darkest of storms.

The Mighty God, who is the author and protector whom power and Majesty is supreme.

The Everlasting Father, who never tires from loving you. And yes, He is our Prince of Peace where real peace is found.

Father allow this to be the reminder whether we face financial hardship, a struggling marriage, the loss of a loved one, or fight the busyness of the season to find real and everlasting peace in You. Calm our restless hearts that expose our need for peace. And as we celebrate the Prince of Peace born in a manager we would remember the price for peace paid on a cross. Amen.  

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As a teacher and writer, Liane Conaway is thankful that God can use her brokenness to communicate God’s truth with authenticity and passion to offer Hope in the messiness of life.

Another passion that drives her is her love for the Word of God. Over the last 21 years she has led numerous Bible studies desiring to encourage women to love the Lord with all their heart, soul and mind.

Although Liane has spoken at numerous Christian events for women in her hometown, she hopes to spend more time ministering through speaking and writing after 13 years of homeschooling.

Liane is a team member and contributing writer at Real Women Ministries.