God’s Peace
Isaiah 40:1-11[1]
There was a time not so long ago when “depression” was
viewed as something shameful and secret. We didn’t talk about it openly. Then
it was widely reported in the news that more Americans than ever were taking
anti-depressants. People believed that anti-depressants were just “feel good”
pills that those who struggled with mental health issues used because they
couldn’t get their act together. But the truth about anti-depressants is that
they’re not pills that make you feel good automatically. There are very
different types of anti-depressants designed to treat very specific medical
issues. And here’s the catch: if you take an anti-depressant that doesn’t treat
your specific medical issue, it’ll make you feel worse, not better. And in some
cases, it’ll make you feel much worse. I’m not a medical doctor, nor am I a
pharmacist. But as many of you know, I do have a life-long history of dealing
with depression. I know what it’s like to try to feel just “okay” and simply
not be able to do it. Fortunately, with the help of the right medication and
years invested with some really good counselors, I am better now.
What medical science has only recently discovered is that
the root cause for depression in very many cases is actually anxiety. I’ve
mentioned that my experience with early childhood was not a happy one. In fact
it was quite traumatic. So much so that I only have a few memories from early
childhood. The challenge for me was that the fears from my childhood were wired
into my nervous system as an adult. I struggled with chronic anxiety even after
getting treatment for depression. I’m not talking about the normal nervousness
we all get from time to time. I’m talking about anxiety that stalks you like a
ghost when you’re awake as well as when you’re asleep. No matter what you do,
you just can’t seem to shake it. Fortunately, again, with the right medical
help and some good counseling, I’m no longer plagued by the specter of anxiety.
I don’t mention this to draw attention to myself. I mention
it because I know that there are still people who struggle with untreated
depression and anxiety. And if I can encourage one person to get the help they
need by talking about my story, it’s worth it. More than that, this is the
second Sunday of Advent. It’s the day when we celebrate the peace that comes
with the good news of Jesus’ birth. It seems to me that if we’re going to talk
about peace, we should talk about the obstacles to peace. I have to confess
that even though I love the message of Christmas, for most of my life this time
of year hasn’t been a peaceful one at all. It’s been one in which I was
troubled by pain and fear. And even the good news of Jesus’ birth and the new
life promised to all of us through him didn’t help me with my depression and
anxiety.
One of the lessons I learned in my journey is that I had to
take some practical steps in order to find peace in my life, like using a
gratitude list, as I mentioned recently. I also have a list of “all the good
things” I’ve encountered in my life that I want to remember. I have as well a
“cloud of witnesses,” or a list of people who’ve been my mentors and friends,
people who have believed in me and supported me through times of crisis. And one
of the main reasons why I exercise so regularly is because it helps me keep my
head on (at least) somewhat “straight.” But I have other practical steps I take
as well. For example, I’m a great fan of the “Serenity Prayer”: “God, grant me
the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things
I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” In fact, I usually pray that
prayer on a daily basis. It’s a constant reminder to me that there’s so much
about life that I cannot control. It helps me remember that trying to control
the things I cannot change only winds up making me miserable, robbing me of
peace. Practical steps like these have helped me know personal peace in my life.
But of course, as we celebrate the second Sunday of Advent,
we’re reminded that peace is a spiritual matter. Like many of you, I’ve drawn
comfort from the Psalms for most of my life. And going along with the theme of
promise I’m pursuing this year during Advent, I’ve drawn comfort from the
promises of Scripture for decades. Promises like “you, O Lord, have not
forsaken those who seek you” (Ps 9:10). Or “though we stumble, we shall not
fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand” (Ps 37:24). Or, “the Lord
will wipe away the tears from all faces” (Isa 25:8). Or, “those who wait for
the Lord will renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isa 40:31). In
fact, I have a list of promises in the Bible I use at home, a list I’ve had for
almost 30 years. Reminding myself of those promises has been a source of peace
for me for decades.
Our reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah for today speaks
to us about peace. The prophet promised the people in the name of the Lord that
God was coming to comfort them. But for a people who had lost everything in
exile, that promise may have seemed an empty one. During their exile there were
many false prophets who had gotten their hopes up. Now, when Isaiah announces
in the name of the Lord that the time has finally come, it would seem they had
no more faith for promises. In response to their despair, the prophet reminds
them that while they may feel that they are like the grass that withers and the
flowers that fade, “the word of our God will stand
forever” (Isa 40:8). In this setting that statement is an assurance that
God will not leave the promise that he would restore his people to their land
unfulfilled. But I think it has a broader application. The idea is that God’s
promises never fail. That’s because God is a God who keeps his promises.
As I’ve shared with you before, there are some wonderful
promises in the book of the prophet Isaiah. In our lesson for today, the
“Gospel according to the prophet Isaiah” is that God would bring the people
home from exile like a shepherd who gently carries the lambs who are either too
weak or who perhaps have been injured (Isa 40:11). This good news echoes
through the whole book of Isaiah in various ways. The Lord promises to end
violence and warfare (Isa 2:4), as well as suffering and oppression (Isa 25:8).
The Lord promises to set a rich feast for all peoples (Isa 25:6), and to set
right all the wrongs (Isa 28:5-6). The Lord promises to restore and heal those who
are weak and injured (Isa 35:3-6). And again, in case there is any doubt about
these promises, the Lord affirms, “My purpose shall stand, and I will fulfill
my intention” (Isa 46:10).
This second Sunday in Advent reminds us that the promises
of Scripture can help us find peace. Regardless of our circumstances,
regardless of what anyone else does, we can find peace through the promises of
Scripture because “the word of our God will stand forever” (Isa 40:8). We can
find peace through the promises of Scripture because, as the prophet said in
the name of the Lord, “my word … that goes out from my mouth … shall not return
to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose” (Isa 55:11). Yes, it’s
important that we do the practical things that help us stay peaceful in our
hearts and minds. But more importantly, we hold on to the promises of Scripture
in the assurance that God always keeps his promises. That assurance provides us
with a kind of peace that St. Paul said “surpasses all understanding” (Phil
4:7). It’s God’s peace, the peace that truly lasts through all the experiences
of our lives.
[1] ©2023 Alan Brehm. A sermon delivered by Rev. Alan Brehm PhD on 12/10/2023 for
Hickman Presbyterian Church, Hickman, NE.
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