His gifts to us

Written By Melinda Olsen

Photo by Jonathan Borba

“Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call Him Immanuel, [God with us].” (Isaiah 7:14)

It’s “that time of year” I hear people say. Life is busy, but exceptionally busy during the holidays. We have list after list of things to be done, things to bake, things to shop for, things we want, things to attend…oy vey! We even put church on our list of “things to do.”

For many, Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year!” For others, not so much.

This has been a heavy, heavy week. There is so much pain in this life, people we love who disappoint and hurt us, our world is becoming less and less recognizable, natural disasters everywhere around the world, and I have heard from so many who are dealing with some real gut-wrenching challenges that are tearing them and their family apart.

Just this week I have received emails, text messages, or phone calls asking for very specific prayers; prayer requests for the former Indiana pastor, now author and speaker,  Davey Blackburn, whose deceased wife and unborn child’s murder trials began this week, six years after their passing, friends who have loved ones in their final days, friends, and family whose children have strayed and are turning their back on what they know to be truth, children who break our hearts and disappoint by hurting us, just to let us know they have control…

But stop! Wait just a minute! Isn’t this “the most wonderful time of the year?” It’s December for crying out loud! It’s the time for good cheer, peace on earth, and goodwill to men. Right?

Actually, in spite of EVERYTHING, the answer to that question is a resounding, YES!

Yes, this is the most wonderful time of the year because God knew we would meet pain, heartache, disappointment, and death as we travel this journey called life, and therefore, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Because of His gift to us in December, [Jesus], you, and I have received an abundance of [undeserved] gifts through that tiny babe, born in a stable many years ago. Personally, I like to think that Immanuel, God with us, is actually the first Christmas gift ever given.

I don’t think I could ever be given a more significant, lifesaving, life-changing gift!

God knew we could not do this life on our own, and He sent Jesus to save us, and to leave us with gifts to sustain us on our journey, gifts to lift us up when we are weary, and gifts to help us overcome the darkness of this world, a world that wants to overpower His light by breaking us and making us feel hopeless.

As I went through this week, I searched for ways to encourage, praying for words that would speak hope, comfort, and life to those who had entrusted their concerns with me, and for my own sense of comfort and hope as my heart was hurting for them, and for things that were personal to me.

I kept running through a list in my head of all the gifts we receive through the birth of Christ. They aren’t gifts wrapped in beautiful packages with glittery bows. They cannot be bought by anyone for us, nor can we purchase them in a store, and they are even more beautiful than something shiny under our tree.

You see, through Jesus, God gave us many, many gifts, gifts that give life, gifts that change lives, gifts that save lives, and gifts that touch souls, our souls, like nothing else on earth can. Did Mary even know that her baby boy, a poor carpenter’s son would give the most expensive and life-changing gifts to a world who would despise and reject Him, yet desperately need his gifts just to get from day to day?

As I was driving this week, I heard the twelve days of Christmas on the radio, then, as I was scrolling through FB, I came across a meme explaining the song and its biblical meaning to each gift. I have no idea if this is exactly accurate, but I really liked it and thought it was harmless to share with you all.

Between hearing The Twelve Days of Christmas song and reading the above meme, I was inspired to make a list of twelve gifts from the birth of Christ that I personally treasure and lean into as I navigate the ups and downs of life in our broken, often dark world. These in no way represent the only gifts, but definitely some of the tip top greatest!

His gifts to us are gifts that we all are freely given, meaning gifts given to us through the birth of Jesus, with all expenses paid by Him upon his death on the cross.

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1.   Most important, above ALL gifts is Salvation-deliverance from sin and eternity in heaven

2.   Forgiveness-Because of Jesus, God will forgive our sins, past, present, and future

3.   Direct access to God-Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection- we don’t need a priest or anyone to intervene for us. Because of Jesus, we can pray directly to God. We can have an intimate relationship with Him. There are no longer any barriers.

4.   The Holy Spirit-The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, comforts us, makes Christ known to us, teaches us the truth, and guides us.

5.   The power of Christ- lives in all of us who believe. We have access to such power because God dwells in us and among us through the Holy Spirit. As we do the work God has given us to do, he helps us with power that exceeds our comprehension and expectations.

6.   Grace-a spontaneous gift from God to people – "generous, free and totally unexpected and undeserved.” Grace is the opposite of karma, which is all about getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.

7.   Mercy-God does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. Mercy is the compassion and kindness shown to someone from the one who has the power to punish or harm. It is an act meant to relieve someone of their suffering.

8.   Joy- joy is a feeling of happiness that is dependent on who Jesus is rather than who we are or what is happening around us. Joy comes from the Holy Spirit, remaining in God's presence and from finding hope in His word.

9.   Prayer-Prayer gives us the opportunity to develop a deeper relationship with Christ. God wants friendship with us. Prayer makes that possible. Prayer is how we make our praise and requests known to God.

10.  Wisdom-Biblical wisdom is a gift of God, and “according to James 1:1-8, we should ask for it and He will give it. James cautions that we must be patient because God gives it through the experiences of living within a relationship with God. Living requires time, and in some cases, a great deal of time because we are often slow to learn. God gives wisdom for us to make the best practical use of all the other gifts He gives, enabling us to glorify Him by our lives. Biblical wisdom and worldly wisdom are not the same skillset. Biblical wisdom contains those spiritual qualities that are in alignment with and support God's purposes.” (Bibletools.org)

11. Freedom from Fear-“There’s nothing magical about words and verses, but there is power through them because they are God’s word. His words are “life” words, soothing to our soul, calming to our spirits, giving power to our days. It’s not always easy, and it often comes down to a choice: Choosing not to allow fear and anxiety to control your life. Choosing to guard your heart. Choosing to focus your mind on what is true in the midst of uncertain times. We might still feel afraid, but we can believe that God is with us. We may not be in control, but we can trust the One who is. We may not know the future, but we can know the God who does.” (Debbie McDaniel, Crosswalk.com)

Last, but not the least of all of these gifts is what I was looking for all week, and in my humble opinion, is the bow that ties everything together.

12. Peace-According to the website wordsoffaithhopelove.com, the word peace appears 329 times in the Bible, with the highest occurrence of 30 times in the book of Isiah.

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“The Lord is Near! Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation with prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6)

I think the reason the word I was searching for all week was peace, and the phrase “peace be still,” because deep sorrow, disappointment, betrayal, loss, brokenness, and all other emotions bring about anxiety, and I know I was feeling a bit of that, as were others that I spoke to.

An antidote to anxiety can be peace.

If we will focus our energy on thankful prayer and less on futile worries, “the peace of God’” will guard our hearts and minds because when our hearts and minds are under attack we need the protection of God to overcome everything that comes with the anxiety it creates.

There is a peaceful calm that will replace worry and anxiety when we pray to God with thanks for the grace He’s already given us. This peace “surpasses all understanding” because, as one scholar put it, “believers experience it when it is unexpected, in circumstances that make it appear impossible to have peace.

Jesus spoke the words “Peace, be still!” to His disciples who were, at the moment, harried, panicked fishermen who forgot Jesus could completely control their frightful circumstances. 

In Mark 4:35-41, we read that one evening Jesus said to His disciples “Let us cross over to the other side” of the lake. So, they left the crowd in a few boats and “a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:37-38).

The disciples had no reason to be afraid. They were with Jesus, right there in the boat. They had seen Him perform miracles. They saw him raise people from the dead. They had to know He would save them from a measly storm. Yet they panicked.

Scripture tells us “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39).  

photo credit: Samule Sun @samule

I love how Jesus, at the height of the storm, told the wind and the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Yet His panicked disciples actually needed to hear and heed that rebuke.

Scripture says Jesus then turned to the scared, frenzied men and asked, “why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:40-41). 

Jesus’ words to the wind and waves, as well as His follow-up rebuke to His disciples for not displaying faith might sound like this today: “Stop worrying! Enough with the anxiety. Calm your hearts. Don’t you realize I can handle this?”

Jesus’ words “Peace, be still!” invite us to calm our anxious hearts and trust in the One who can not only sleep during the storm but can help us do the same. Although Jesus was asleep in the boat that day, Scripture tells us our God “will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4), and is ever aware of all that we need, right when we need it. 

If Jesus can calm the waves of the sea, He can certainly calm the storms in you and me.

If He can command the elements of the earth, He can control the circumstances around us or the storm-tossed emotions within us. 

The Bible tells us that peace is an inward calm, produced in us through prayer and an awareness of God’s presence in our lives, as experienced through the awareness of all the other gifts we were given when the baby Jesus was born.

Peace is trusting God no matter the circumstances and not panicking in the storms as the disciples did.

 Philippians 4:6-7 defines God’s peace as something that “surpasses all understanding” and “will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 

Sometimes Jesus will  bring immediate peace to the storms of our lives, but we can be assured that at all times, He brings peace to the storms within our souls.

When we are tempted to let fear and worry rage within, we must remember Philippians 4:6–7: "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

In this fallen world, not every storm we encounter will be miraculously stilled, but Jesus gives the peace that passes all understanding so that we may walk calmly with Him through every storm we encounter in our lives.

The Hebrew word for peace is šālôm, this word means totality, completeness, fulfillment, wholeness, harmony, security, well-being, and even success.

Biblical peace in its fullness is only made possible through Christ because He is the giver.

Finding peace in the pain, the disappointment, and the chaos is only possible through Christ. Without Him, we will be lost in the anxiety, noise, the drama, and the pain that we are experiencing. 

The song “Sometimes He Calms the Storm” by Benton Kevin Stokes and Tony W. Wood beautifully communicate this truth:

Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered “Peace, be still.”
He can settle any sea,
But it doesn’t mean He will.

Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild;
Sometimes He calms the storm,
And other times He calms His child.

Something to consider: How to find peace when we need it? Check your focus. Who or what are you listening to? Get into your Bible. Read devotionals. Listen to sermons. Get outside in nature. Exercise. Who are you surrounding yourself with and what are they feeding into your soul? Pray. Just talk to God. He already knows your heart. Ask someone to pray for or with you. Turn on Christian radio. Thank God for the gifts he has given you.
Melinda Olsen

From a divorced, single mom, to remarried and part of a multi-faceted blended family, I can assure you, life does go on after divorce, and it can be better than you imagined.

I see you. I’ve been you.

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