In the quiet glow of candlelight, something profound awaits discovery. As December unfolds and the world rushes toward Christmas, an ancient tradition invites us to pause, reflect, and prepare our hearts for something far more profound than holiday festivities.
The Advent season—from the Latin word adventus, meaning “to reveal” or “to make manifest”—celebrates three appearances of Christ: His birth as a baby in Bethlehem, His appearance within us when we experience salvation, and His final appearing when all creation is renewed and glorified. This isn’t merely historical remembrance; it’s an ongoing revelation of light breaking into darkness.
The Light That Darkness Cannot Overcome
Throughout scripture, light serves as a powerful metaphor for divine presence and truth. The psalmist declared, “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” Isaiah prophesied that “the people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” John’s Gospel proclaims that “in Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
This isn’t poetic sentiment—it’s eternal truth. When we look at the darkness in our communities, our nations, or even within ourselves, we can anchor to this certainty: light will triumph. The life of Christ, which is the light of the world, can never be extinguished by any shadow, no matter how deep.
We’ve been translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Even in the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil because the light has overcome the darkness.
The Prince of Peace
The second candle of Advent—the Bethlehem candle—represents peace. Isaiah prophesied, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Notice the beautiful distinction: the child was born, but the son was given. Because the child was born, sonship can be given to us.
The Hebrew word for peace—shalom—means far more than the absence of conflict. It encompasses wholeness, harmony, completeness, order, blessing, and flourishing under the loving rule of God. One description captures it perfectly: nothing lost, nothing stolen, and nothing broken. No lack, nothing out of place.
This is kingdom peace, not sentimental peace. It’s rooted in a King whose reign heals everything sin has broken.
From Brokenness to Wholeness
Consider this profound insight: Why don’t you be to others what you need from them?
Many of us carry wounds from fractured relationships, absent parents, or painful circumstances. We crave healing, acceptance, and love. But here’s the miraculous transformation Christ offers: He heals our fractures so completely that we can become sources of what we once desperately needed.
We move from takers to givers, from cursed to blessers, from bottomless pits of need to wells and fountains of love and acceptance for others. This is the healing power of the Prince of Peace—He enables us to become what He is to others.
Preparing the Way
John the Baptist’s cry echoes through the centuries: “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” His ministry centred on repentance—removing the obstacles that hinder peace from entering our hearts.
He addressed the mountains of pride, calling the religious elite to humble themselves. He spoke to the valleys of discouragement, lifting people to see that hope had arrived. He confronted corruption, urging soldiers to be content with their wages and to stop taking bribes.
Repentance becomes the doorway to peace. Where Christ is welcomed, His peace enters. The lighting of the peace candle invites us to prepare our hearts again, to remove what hinders, and to make room for the King of peace.
Peace: A Gift, Not an Achievement
In John 14:27, Jesus made an extraordinary promise: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
This reveals something crucial: peace is a gift, not an achievement. Jesus left His peace with His disciples by giving them His Spirit. When we have Christ, we have peace because we have the Prince of Peace Himself.
But notice the command: “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Our role is to guard that peace. We must actively choose not to let our hearts be troubled, drawing on God’s Word and remembering His faithfulness in our past experiences.
The world offers temporary relief through escapism, extreme control, or emotional numbness. But Jesus gives something deeper—Himself. His peace is internal, not circumstantial; steady, not fragile; supernatural, not psychological. It guards our hearts and minds.
Peace in the Storm
Remember the story of Jesus calming the storm? The disciples were in a boat, waves crashing, wind howling, and Jesus spoke: “Peace, be still.”
Often, the calming of the waves isn’t external—it’s internal. He doesn’t always calm the storm around us; He calms the storm within us.
There’s a beautiful painting depicting peace in a storm: angry clouds, torrential rain, strong winds lashing against a rock face. But in the centre, in a small hollow, a dove sits peacefully in its nest, safe and sheltered. There’ll be peace in the midst of a storm.
When Hearts Need to Sparkle Again
A young boy, feeling overlooked while his brother excelled at swimming, sat dejectedly by the pool. When asked what was wrong, he explained he felt less impressive. After some encouragement and diving practice, his confidence returned. Later, when called to leave the pool, he resisted, finally explaining: “I just need to stay in the pool until my heart starts to sparkle again.”
What profound wisdom from a child. Sometimes we lose the sparkle—the sense of God’s peace, the joy of His presence. Maybe it’s been a challenging year, or perhaps just a recent setback has left you feeling unsettled.
This Advent season offers an invitation: pick a light in your home, light a candle, look at your Christmas tree, and let it remind you that the Light of the world has come. The Prince of Peace lives within you.
The Prophetic Promise
The Advent candle burns with threefold hope: Peace has come. Peace is here. Peace is coming.
This world will not end in chaos and turmoil—it will end in glory. Wars will cease, justice will flow like a river, creation itself will be restored, and the nations will walk in His light. The world is not drifting toward chaos; it’s moving toward the unshakable peace of Christ’s eternal reign.
As you navigate the remainder of this year and step into the next, remember: you carry the Prince of Peace within you. When you have peace, you can make peace for others. Stay in the pool of His presence long enough for the sparkle to return to your heart.
The candle of peace reminds us that the light has come, darkness cannot overcome it, and the shalom of God—nothing lost, nothing stolen, nothing broken—is your portion.
