On Christmas day in 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote these words: 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." Just a few years earlier, he lost his wife to severe burns after getting caught on fire. He himself dealt with burns of his own while trying to put her out. This year, in 1863, he sits in Cambridge with his nearly dead son – Charles. Charley was serving with the Union in the Civil War where a bullet entered his left shoulder and exited under his right shoulder blade – nicking his spinal cord and leaving him almost paralyzed. Has he tries to put into words the emptiness that he feels, the bells bring to ring, signifying Christmas celebration. This 2nd verse we read above is then followed with two more verses, hopeful in the work and plan of God. Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men." Till, ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, Of peace on earth, good will to men. Has your Christmas left you with more questions than it has reasons to rejoice? Maybe you can resonate closely with Longfellow’s words – “there is no peace on earth.” Maybe you feel as if God is dead or asleep. Maybe you can’t imagine a “voice, a chime, a chant sublime, of peace on earth, good will to men.” God can answer that fear. Today, we’ll see that God’s can turn your fear into joy and rejoicing. We must be not be afraid because God deserve our praise.
