Silent Night

Christmas comes and goes so quickly, and if we are not careful, the truth of Christmas does not make its way into our souls.  Think back to the first Christmas.  More then likely it was a chaotic scene.  A crowded city, a woman in labor, a stable full of animals.  Not to mention the shepherds who came straight from the field to pay a visit.  Someone looking on probably may not have labeled the unfolding events as calm, peaceful, or silent.  Yet every Christmas we look back on these events by singing the familiar carol, Silent Night.

This year, as I sat listening to the words, I was struck by the power and beauty of this song.  The truth is my life is not always calm, peaceful, and silent.  And even the rare times it seems to be so externally, internally I am often full of wrestling, worrying, and questioning.  But in the middle of my chaos, just like in the middle of the chaos in that Bethlehem stable, God’s presence changes everything.  The world Jesus entered into in the most literal sense, was not silent, but His presence brought a holy stillness.  The silence, the stillness that reaches into the soul.  The weary world could now rejoice, because their Savior had come.

In the same way, my life and your life, are full of challenges, tasks, and assignments.  As we survey our lives, we may see crazy.  But then, if we let Him, enters Jesus.  And He brings a holy silence.  This Christmas God gave me the gentle reminder, that He is still the Prince of Peace.  And His peace can silence the chaos, the questions, and the confusion in my soul.  And I can experience the same stillness found on that Silent Night when our Savior was born.

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“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.‘”
Luke 2:10-14 NASB