Devotional: The Wonder of Christmas- Peace That Comes Through Tension
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”“Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’”
Luke 2:29–32, 34–35 (NIV)
At Christmas, we talk a lot about peace.
We sing about it.
We long for it.
We hope it will settle our anxious hearts and mend what feels broken.
And yet, in the middle of the Christmas story, Simeon speaks of something unexpected.
Alongside peace, he speaks of a sword.
Simeon recognizes what many of us are tempted to overlook. The peace Jesus brings is not shallow or sentimental. It is deep, costly, and transformative. And because of that, it often comes through tension.
First, there is inner tension. Simeon says this child will reveal the thoughts of many hearts. Jesus does not merely comfort us. He confronts us. His presence exposes the gap between who we are and who God is calling us to be. That exposure can be uncomfortable, even painful. But it is also the beginning of healing. Real peace does not come from avoiding the truth about ourselves. It comes from surrendering our hearts fully to the One who can make us new.
Second, there is outer tension. Simeon says Jesus will be spoken against. Allegiance to Christ is costly. Following Jesus reshapes our priorities, our values, and sometimes our relationships. It may create tension at work, within families, or among friends. This is not because Jesus is unloving, but because loyalty to Him reshapes our lives. Avoiding that tension does not bring peace. Faithfulness through it does.
Finally, there is ultimate tension. Simeon tells Mary that a sword will pierce her soul. This points us to the cross. Jesus came to establish peace between God and humanity, but that peace required judgment. And someone had to bear it. Jesus took the sword upon Himself so that we could know peace with God. At the cross, justice and mercy meet. Love and holiness are held together. And our hearts are revealed before they are healed.
The tension we experience as followers of Jesus is not meant to undo us. It is meant to form us. Because Jesus has already borne the ultimate tension on our behalf, the tension we feel now cannot destroy us. It is shaping us into people who trust Him more fully.
This is the wonder of Christmas. Peace has come. And it comes through tension.
Prayer
God,
Search my heart and show me what needs to be surrendered to You.
Give me courage to face the tension that comes with following Jesus.
Help me trust that You are at work in the places that feel uncomfortable or unresolved.
Thank You for the peace You have established through Christ, a peace that is deeper than circumstances and stronger than fear.
Lead me in the way everlasting.
Amen.
Reflection Questions
Where are you currently experiencing inner tension as you follow Jesus? What might God be revealing to you?
Are there areas of your life where loyalty to Christ has created or may create outer tension? How are you responding to that?
How does the cross shape your understanding of peace, especially when life feels unsettled or hard?
The peace Jesus establishes for you always includes tension.
But that tension is not the absence of God’s presence.
It is often the very place where His work in you is most real.
