The Saddest Words in a Christmas Carol

“I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27 NLT)

Christmas was not a happy time for this man. His country was embroiled in a war he hated, from which his son had returned home with severe wounds. He grieved deeply for his wife, who had died after a freak accident two years before. And so, on Christmas Day in 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem called “Christmas Bells.” 

The poem eventually inspired the hymn we know as “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” and contains what may be the saddest words ever written in a Christmas carol: “And in despair I bowed my head; ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said; ‘For hate is strong and mocks the song Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!’”

Perhaps there’s never been a more fitting time for those words to apply. Hatred, wars, murders, crimes, unrest on an unprecedented scale, yet, the Lord Jesus, born in the midst of turmoil and many challenges is still alive, still on His throne, still reigning as King of kings and Lord of lords. Are there reasons we could choose to despair? Are there circumstances in our lives on which we could focus that could steal our joy and cause us to miss the real reason for this season?

Of course there are, but peace is a choice! It’s a gift given that must be received, cherished, guarded, and enjoyed. We don’t have peace in spite of any given negative circumstance, we have peace because of an ongoing relationship we have with the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ. HE IS OUR PEACE, and He doesn’t tuck tail and run every time things get tough in our life.   

Are you struggling this Christmas? As we age the number of loved ones who have died around holidays mounts, which can increase our sorrow and struggles, but that can also be a reason to rejoice, especially as is the case with my precious sister, who went from agony and pain to the loving arms of her Savior. That’s something worth celebrating!

But even as I write, I realize that many have lost loved ones and friends, as have I, who didn’t know the Lord and won’t be in heaven. Do we allow Satan to rob us of our peace because of something over which we have no control? Our loved ones and friends have the same free will we have and if they reject Jesus, sadly, that’s on them.

Yes, of course, we do all within our power to point them to the Lord, but ultimately, it’s their decision. Does our heart break when they reject Him? Of course, but that doesn’t lessen the intensity of our love for and devotion to Him. His peace is a gift that once received will not be withdrawn. Yes, we can ignore it, walk away from it, pretend it’s not real or doesn’t exist, but the Lord of Creation stands behind His word when He tells us clearly in Hebrews 13:5 (quoting from Deuteronomy 31:6) “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”   

Please know you are not alone this Christmas. You may not be in another human being’s presence, but you ARE in God’s presence and on many levels, His presence is all that matters. I can be in a crowded room, but if I’m not sensing the Lord’s presence I can feel very alone.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊