Waiting. It’s something we all deal with, but no one seems to enjoy. Whether it's waiting in line, waiting for test results, or waiting for something bigger like a new opportunity or resolution to a problem, waiting can feel like it steals your peace. The truth is, waiting is part of life, and how we handle it can either help us grow or drag us down.
When we fail to wait well, we often lose our joy. Worse, we can make decisions in the heat of the moment — decisions we regret later — just because we couldn’t stand to wait. Advent, the season leading up to Christmas, is a perfect opportunity to learn how to wait with peace. It reminds us that waiting doesn’t have to be passive or pointless. It can be filled with purpose, and when we wait with faith in Christ, it can even be peaceful.
What Is Peace?
Peace is one of those words we throw around a lot. But what does it really mean? Peace isn’t just the absence of conflict. It’s bigger than that. You can think of peace in three dimensions:
- Peace with God – Knowing that there’s no barrier between you and God and God is not holding anything against you.
- Inner tranquility – A calm heart, even when the world around you feels chaotic.
- Harmonious relationships – Living in love and understanding with others.
This week, we’re focusing on two big thieves of peace: shame and anxiety. Shame tells you that you’re not lovable or good enough, driving you away from God and others. Anxiety fills you with fear about the unknown, making it hard to stay calm and purposeful while you wait.
The good news is that Jesus Christ offers a solution to both. When we trust Him, He removes shame and release us from our anxiety.
Jesus Removes Our Shame
Shame has been around since the beginning of humanity. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and what happened next is telling:
“Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths... The man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:7-8, ESV).
Their guilt over their actions led to shame. Guilt is feeling bad about something you’ve done. Shame, on the other hand, is feeling like you are bad — like you are unlovable because of who you are.
Here’s the thing: guilt can be a good thing. It’s like a moral alarm system. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 7:10: “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death” (ESV).
But shame? Shame tells you to hide. It says you’re not worth being loved or forgiven. And that’s a lie.
Jesus destroys that lie on the cross. He took on your guilt and shame, facing rejection and humiliation so you wouldn’t have to. When shame whispers, “You’re a mistake,” Jesus shouts back, “No, you’re worth dying for!”
To wait with peace, reject the voice of shame. If guilt shows you something you need to address, take it to Jesus. Let Him guide you to grow. But when shame says you’re not good enough, remind yourself of this truth: Jesus thought you were worth everything, and nothing can change that.
Jesus Is the Antidote to Anxiety
Anxiety is another peace-stealer. It creeps in when we worry about things we can’t control, filling our minds with fear of what might happen. Jesus understands this struggle and offers a better way.
In Matthew 6:34, He says, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (ESV).
Anxiety often comes from trying to play God—thinking you have to figure everything out or hold everything together. But Jesus offers a different path:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30, ESV).
Learning to wait with peace means letting go of the need to control everything — you have to decide that you are not God. It means trusting that God is in control, even when you’re not.
Philippians 4:6-7 gives us a roadmap:
“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” (ESV).
When you feel anxiety creeping in, bring it to Jesus. Trust that He’s got your future in His hands. Plan wisely, live actively, but don’t let worry steal your peace.
Living with Peace in Jesus
So how do we actually live with the peace Jesus offers? Here are three key steps, grounded in God’s Word:
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Rest in the death and resurrection of Jesus that acknowledges guilt but removes shame.
Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (ESV).
Because of Jesus, your relationship with God is restored. You don’t have to live in shame because He has declared you forgiven and loved. -
Bring your anxieties to Jesus through prayer.
1 Peter 5:7 reminds us to cast “all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (ESV).
When fear or worry threatens your peace, take it to God. He listens, He cares, and He promises to carry your burdens. -
Trust that God is working, even in the waiting.
Isaiah 26:3 offers this encouragement: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (ESV).
When you focus on God and His promises, you’ll find peace, even in life’s uncertainties.
Waiting doesn’t have to be a time of frustration or fear. In Christ, it can be a time of growth, trust, and peace. So as you wait—whether it’s for something big or small—remember this: Jesus has already taken care of your past, is with you in the present, and holds your future in His hands. You can trust Him to give you peace every step of the way.