Advent Through the Lens of Grief: Week Two – Peace

Advent peace in grief can feel like a strange pairing, especially at Christmas. If you are grieving this season, peace may feel far away—yet Advent invites us into a deeper peace, one grounded not in changed circumstances but in the nearness of God Himself.

Last week we lit the first candle of Advent—Hope—a small flame reminding us that God has not forgotten us, even when grief makes the world feel dim. This week, as we turn to the second candle, we step into the theme of Peace.

Peace can feel like an impossible word when loss lives quietly beneath the surface of the season. It’s rarely the first thing we reach for; often, it’s the thing we doubt we will ever feel again. And still, Advent offers us a peace unlike anything the world gives—a peace that enters our sorrow and steadies us through it.

What Is Peace?

When we think of peace, most of us imagine quiet moments—stillness, rest, the soft sound of our own breathing again. The dictionary echoes that: a state of tranquility, freedom from disturbance, the calming of anxious thoughts.

But Scripture takes peace and widens it.

In the Bible, peace—shalom—is not simply the absence of conflict or the silence after a storm. Shalom is wholeness. It is everything restored to the way God intended it to be. It is the sense of being held together when life feels like it’s falling apart. It is the assurance that God is near, working in ways we cannot yet see.

Biblical peace is not something we achieve.

• It is something God gives.
• Something Christ purchased.
• Something the Spirit sustains.

Peace does not begin with us getting stronger. It begins with God drawing close.

What Brings Peace in the Midst of Sorrow?

When we are grieving, peace feels complicated. We cannot undo what we’ve lost. We cannot reverse the diagnosis, the accident, the absence. We cannot bring our loved one back, which—if we’re honest—is the peace we really long for.

And yet Scripture shows us how peace can still find us, even here:

• Isaiah reminds us that peace comes from fixing our minds on God, not on the things we cannot control. “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You… for the Lord, the Lord Himself, is the Rock eternal” (Isaiah 26:3–4). Peace grows where trust is planted.
• The angels declared “Peace on earth” the night Jesus was born (Luke 2:8–14). They announced peace into a world still full of sorrow, oppression, and longing. Peace wasn’t the result of perfect circumstances—it was the arrival of a perfect Savior. And His coming secured the hope that we will one day see our believing loved ones again.
• Jesus Himself said, “My peace I give you… not as the world gives” (John 14:27). His peace does not depend on tidied-up emotions or fixed situations. It is a peace that steadies trembling hearts.
• Paul assures us that peace comes as we hand our burdens to God—again and again if needed. When we do, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds” (Philippians 4:4–7). Later, he urges us to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts (Colossians 3:12–17), reminding us that peace is both a gift and a posture.

These Scriptures do not promise that grief will vanish. They promise that God will meet us in it, carry us through it, and hold us together as He heals what has been broken.

Living Our Peace

If you are walking through loss this Christmas, you may carry memories that warm your heart… or memories that steal your breath. You may feel close to peace one moment and shattered the next. That does not mean you are doing Advent wrong. It means you are human—and grieving—and loved.

Peace is not pretending everything is fine. Peace is whispering, “I trust You, Lord—even here.”

Peace is learning to say: “I don’t understand this, and I don’t like it. But You are still good. You are still with me. You are still my peace.”

Like the angels, we lift our voices—sometimes shaky, sometimes strong—and proclaim,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace…” even when our hearts still ache.

Peace is possible, even if the sorrow remains. Because peace is not the absence of pain—it is the presence of Christ.

Song of Peace, Week Two, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” — Casting Crowns

Casting Crowns’ version of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” brings new life to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s grief-born poem. Written during the Civil War after deep personal loss, the original lyrics wrestle honestly with despair before turning toward hope. Casting Crowns captures that journey, pairing historic words with a modern chorus that echoes Advent’s promise: even when the world feels broken, God is not absent. His peace still breaks through the darkness, steady and unshaken.

Excerpt

And the bells are ringing (peace on Earth)
Like a choir they’re singing (peace on Earth)
In my heart I hear them (peace on Earth)
Peace on Earth, good will to men

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, good will to men

But the bells are ringing (peace on Earth)
Like a choir singing (peace on Earth)
Does anybody hear them? (Peace on Earth)
Peace on Earth, good will to men

Reflection Questions

1. Where do you most feel the absence of peace this season?
2. What would it look like to let Christ’s peace “rule” in one area of your life this week?
3. Is there a Scripture above that you can return to each day—something to steady your mind and heart?

If this season is especially hard, visit the resources section for practical help and faith-filled encouragement as you walk through your grief.