As December drew near, I felt not joyful anticipation but dread. The shopping, the baking, and the decorating weighed me down—just adding to the many commitments I already had. I wanted to ponder the God who became a man but instead wondered how I would get everything done.
When I read through a passage from the prophet Isaiah about the coming Messiah, I noticed some often overlooked verses. God promised His people that He would enlarge the nation and increase their joy (Isaiah 9:3 NIV); He would shatter “the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. [He would] break the oppressor’s rod” (v. 4). He would usher in a new government: “For a child is born to us, . . . And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (v. 6).
As I considered the gift of Jesus being a fulfilment of God’s prophecy, I also thought how gracious God was to set His people free from oppression and conflict. I knew He could release me from the bar across my shoulders—the weight of my many commitments.
Although being too busy pales when compared with God’s release of the Israelites, even so He gives me wisdom and help.
God wants us to enjoy His freedom both now and later. As we embrace His Son as our Wonderful Counselor, He as the Prince of Peace will usher us into an abiding peace.
