by Ryan Eckhoff, Small Groups Pastor

During Christmas, I’m emotionally moved by the song I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day by Casting Crowns. Its words echo the deep ache and hope we feel in this season. The song declares the angel’s promise from long ago: “peace on earth, goodwill to men.” But as I look around, I often find myself wondering, where is that peace? Today, our world seems weighed down by division and unrest. We hear the news and see wars continuing in Ukraine and Israel, acts of hate and violence in our streets and cities, and families unable to get along. At times, the promise of Christmas feels distant, overshadowed by a reality that seems anything but peaceful.

This song raises a tension in me, and then it shares a truth that steadies me. There’s a verse that reminds us that God is not absent. It declares, “God is not dead, nor does He sleep.” And in those simple, yet profound words, I’m reminded of the promise that remains even when circumstances seem dark. One day, Jesus will return, and when He does, every wrong will fall, and right will finally prevail. This is the hope that we as believers hold onto, even in troubled times.

But even as we wait for that glorious day, I’ve found that God offers something deeply personal, right now, if we’re willing to pause and receive it. For me, I’ve noticed that my heart feels the truest peace not when the world’s noise fades, but when I step away from it for a moment. When I take time in the midst of the busyness and strain of the season to focus on Him, something powerful happens. There’s a quietness, a steady comfort, that fills me as I reflect on who God is. In those moments, as I adore Him for His greatness and faithfulness, I feel held—secure in a peace that only He can give.