Peace Right Here Right Now | Advent Devotional Day 26

December 25th, 2025
by Sarah Hines

Advent 2025 DevotionalCore | Peace
December 25, 2025
Written by Pastor Morgan Goymer

Title - Merry Christmas! Peace Right Here, Right Now

Scripture

“13 Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, 14 “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”
15 When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” 16 They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. 18 Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. 20 The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told.”
— Luke 2:13-20, CEB

It's a tradition for my family to watch Christmas movies throughout the season. As you probably know, there are too many options, so we usually end up watching one or two on Christmas Day. I grew up seeing them all! This year, my family added even more (oh boy...) but instead of movies, we chose TV shows. Yes. There are so many holiday and Christmas TV episodes, and honestly, they’re usually a hit. One that stood out to me was an episode from "Bob’s Burgers." Yes, it’s an unlikely choice and not usually suitable for kids. However, this episode brought tears to my eyes and had age-appropriate jokes throughout.

Why am I sharing this? Because I find that Christmas movies and shows are some of my favorites, not primarily because of the magic, laughs, or moments to pause for a couple of hours (although that helps!). They’re my favorites, and I can't wait to watch them each year because most Christmas stories have a deeper meaning about:

Family (see: Home Alone)
Friends (see: It’s A Wonderful Life)
Being a good person (see: [Insert Film Here, e.g., The Santa Clause])
The world around us (see: A Christmas Carol/Muppets Christmas Carol)

When I watch, I’m reminded of how special life and the people around me are. It reminds me to slow down and remember, even during hard times. They remind me that right here, right now, we can have and find peace. And it’s not found in big ways, like expensive vacations or solving all the world’s problems; Peace is found in the small moments of life, like Christmas morning: a time spent with people you love, a day to rest, or the joy of twinkling lights and ever-alive trees that really should be dead by now.

I mean, that’s what Jesus’ birth story was all about: a small baby born in a barn, barely wrapped in blankets. The first visitors were not government officials, royalty, or even religious leaders. They were smelly, tired, confused shepherds who were visited by angels and promised peace.

While one might not think peace was found in a barn in Bethlehem, they felt the peace promised to them. They told Mary of the messages the angels gave, and she treasured this visit close to her heart because, after giving birth, she was reminded of why this baby and her motherhood were important. After the visit, the shepherds didn’t shrug off this strange day but told people about it because they felt peace unlike any before... they had to share it! They told about the big moment of angels visiting them AND the small moment of visiting a baby in a barn. Because at the end of the day, it’s in the small moments of our lives where we can experience the greatest peace.

What does this look like for you?

Remember that "Bob’s Burgers" episode I mentioned? Well, I won’t give away the plot to “The Plight Before Christmas,” but a poem (What's Around the Tree, by Louise Belcher) is read that really struck me:

“I can't see what's around the tree when I'm pawing through the presents, but when I sit back and get my present unwrapped, I look up and I see my parents. I see and smell my brother, that's clearly where the gas is. And I see my sister with something that looks like gingerbread on her glasses. And we don't have gingerbread, so this is odd. We made funny ornaments for the tree this year, and we make funny ornaments, sitting here around the tree so jolly. I didn't expect to feel this way. I was focusing on Santa, but the best presents are sitting here, and they aren't even wrapped up.”

So, I invite you into a moment of peace today. Look around you.

Maybe you're with family, friends, pets, or by yourself.
Maybe you put up a tree, or perhaps it was just too much this year.
Maybe you’ve made breakfast, a feast, or are simply eating a bowl of cereal (been there).

Take a moment to soak this day in. Read over the Christmas story in Luke, chapter 2. What presents are around you? Not the ones wrapped up but out in the open. They may be hard to find (like a tiny baby in an unmarked barn) or quite obvious (like a group of angels singing). Take a moment to reflect on this year and hold the message of peace in your heart, like Mary as she searched for meaning.

I pray that whatever today looks like for you, you can find peace, even in this moment of Christmas Day.

Written by
Pastor Morgan
Morgan Goymer
morgan.goymer@gatheringnow.org
gatheringnow.org/metro-east
(314)390-6847‬

Posted in Advent Devotional