Advent week 2: Peace That Finds You In The Middle of The Chaos

The discourse within this podcast episode elucidates the profound theme of "Peace that Finds You in the Middle of the Chaos," which resonates deeply during the second week of Advent. In this context, we contemplate the biblical narrative found in Luke 1:26-38, where the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she has found favor with God. This pivotal moment, rather than ushering in tranquility, initiates a tumultuous upheaval in her life, challenging our conventional understanding of peace as the mere absence of conflict. We explore the notion that true peace emerges not when circumstances align favorably, but through a surrender to God amidst disorder and uncertainty. Consequently, we invite listeners to reflect upon their own lives, recognizing that the divine presence offers solace and stability even when chaos surrounds them.

In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey D. Skinner explores the theme of peace during the second week of Advent, focusing on Mary's encounter with the angel Gabriel. He emphasizes that true peace is not the absence of chaos but the presence of God within it. Through Mary's story, he illustrates how God chooses the overlooked and how surrendering to God's will can lead to profound peace amidst life's upheavals.

Takeaways

The second week of Advent focuses on peace.

Mary's encounter with Gabriel highlights God's favor on the overlooked.

Peace in scripture is not the absence of conflict but God's presence in it.

Mary's surrender led to the incarnation amidst chaos.

God's grace precedes our actions and understanding.

Honest questioning from a place of surrender is honored by heaven.

The same Spirit that overshadowed Mary is with us today.

True peace is received through surrender, not manufactured.

Mary's story offers hope to those in chaos and uncertainty.

The peace of Advent is about finding God in the midst of turmoil.

As we delve into the second week of Advent, the podcast elucidates the theme of peace that emerges in the midst of chaos, drawing upon the biblical account of Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel. This pivotal moment serves as a profound illustration of the complexities surrounding the notion of peace, particularly when juxtaposed with the realities of life’s unpredictable nature. The conversation begins with an examination of the initial reaction of Mary, who is described as perplexed upon receiving news that she has been chosen to bear the Messiah. The podcast invites listeners to reflect on the implications of this encounter, which challenges the conventional understanding of peace as merely the absence of strife. Instead, it posits that true peace is birthed from a deep and abiding faith in God, even when circumstances are laden with uncertainty and upheaval.

Furthermore, the discussion highlights how God’s choice to announce such momentous news to a young, overlooked woman exemplifies His tendency to work through the marginalized and the insignificant. This serves as an empowering reminder that every person possesses intrinsic value and purpose, regardless of societal status. The narrative not only illustrates Mary’s courageous acceptance of her role but also emphasizes the importance of surrendering to God’s will, thereby finding peace amidst chaos. In light of contemporary challenges, the episode resonates with those grappling with their own tumultuous experiences, offering hope that even in our most trying times, God’s presence can provide a steadfast peace that surpasses all understanding.

To encapsulate, the podcast encourages listeners to reframe their understanding of peace as an active engagement with God, rather than a passive state of being. By embracing the chaos of life and recognizing the divine purpose that undergirds it, we are empowered to trust in God’s overarching plan, much like Mary did. This Advent season, we are called to embody the peace that...

Episode Transcript

(02:07):
Marcus Aurelius said, what wedo in life echoes through eternity.
What is your life echoingthrough eternity? Welcome to Echoes
Through Eternity with Dr.Jeffrey Skinner. Our mission is to
inspire, engage and encourageleaders from across the globe to
plant missional churches andbe servant leaders. So join us and

(02:29):
hear the stories of servantleaders reverberating lives as God
echoes them through eternity.Brought to you by Missional Church
Planting and LeadershipDevelopment in Dynamic Church Planning
International.
Welcome in that goes throughEternity. I AM your host, Dr. Jeffrey
D. Skinner. What is Godechoing through your life today?

(02:52):
Well, today is week two ofAdvent. The scripture that we find
ourselves in is Luke 1:26, 36or 38, I think it is. But I wanted
to focus on just oneparticular version or our verse of

(03:14):
this, but I've entitled thisepisode Peace that Binds Us in the
Chaos. Again. Very shortpodcast today. Just wanted to hop
on and give you guyssomething. But as I said, we're stepping
into the second week of Adventtoday. It's the Week of Peace. And
I wanted to start by readingone of the most familiar Advent passages.

(03:34):
Luke he yet was 1 through 38.Luke 1:26 38. This is the moment
where Gabriel appears to ayoung girl in Azareth, a girl in
the world that didn't notice.A girl with no title. She had no
platform, no status, butheaven noticed her. Heaven called

(03:55):
her favored. Heaven steppedinto her story. The NRSV Updated
Edition the New RevisedStandard Version Updated Edition
this is an interesting wordhere, says that Mary was perplexed.
Other translations NIV willsay troubled. You could almost see

(04:16):
her heart catch in her throathere. The original Greek tells us
that she wasn't confused,which is kind of how we read perplexed
today about the angel'spresence. She was struggling to believe
that the Lord himself wouldgreet her. She was her world was
rocked by the fact that thisangel was coming to her. When angels

(04:40):
appeared to you in scriptureand tells you that the Lord has favor
with you, it wasn'tnecessarily a good thing. We ask
for the favor of the Lord tobe upon us today in scripture and
worldview, they had a muchmore respectful view, a fear of the

(05:04):
Lord that we do notunderstand. Today we have such a
casual relationship with Godbecause we're 2,000 years on the
other side of Jesus. And so weunderstand that the Holy Spirit is
present with us and he is ourfriend. But in that world, seeing

(05:24):
God as a friend was notsomething, was not a familiar view
of God. And so when an angelappears to a young girl who has no
status, is forgotten. Andactually being forced into an arranged
marriage, there is nojubilance. And it's beyond confusion.

(05:51):
It's beyond, beyondperplexity. It is simply that. What
is going on here? I'm not surethat we have the words in English
language to fully explain it,but that's the echo. That's the first
echo I want us to hear todayas God chooses the overlooked on

(06:13):
purpose again. That's ourstory. God Abram was nobody when
God appeared to him. Adam andEve were his creations. But after
the fall, after they sinned,they were kicked out of the garden.
And so the presence of theLord was. Was not familiar to anyone

(06:35):
and certainly not the gods ingeneral. You had, didn't. You didn't
have a cozy relationship withthe God, with the gods. You. You
had to appease the gods withsacrifices and things like that.
And even the Lord Yahweh wasno one to be trifled with. Moses,

(06:57):
remember, took off his shoesand was left speechless almost as
a result of his encounter withGod. So here we are. Nazareth was
nowhere. Mary was no one. Theworld valued, and yet the incarnation

(07:18):
begins in obscurity. That'sgood news for every small town church
plant. It's good news forevery chaplain who walks hospital
halls that no one else sees.It's good for chaplains who walk
and talk in the workplace withemployees who are going through incredible

(07:41):
stress right now in theholidays with financial problems
and family problems. It's goodnews for every believer who feels
unnoticed, unseen, or pushedaside. God starts his greatest work
in places the world doesn'twatch. Gabriel calls Mary. I hope

(08:07):
I can pronounce the Greekcorrectly here. Karatomini kikera
tomini means favored one. Thisis the only place in the New Testament
this exact words appear. Andfor any Greek scholars out there,
hey, please write in and giveme phonetic spelling. Let me know

(08:28):
if I butchered this in anyway. I am not a Greek scholar by
any stretch. I'm not a Hebrewscholar by any stretch. The academy
is probably ashamed of me. Butanyway, it means Mary has already
received grace. And in termsof my denomination, this is the prevenient

(08:50):
grace that we speak about. Thegrace that goes before, before any
action, any earned favor, any.Any activity on our part. God's grace
is already working in ourlives. So this is the grace that
preceded the calling. God'sfavor was already resting on Mary

(09:10):
before she heard anythingabout a child, a kingdom, or a throne.
Now contrast Mary withZechariah. Both receive impossible
promises. Both stand beforethe same angel, both wrestle with
the message. But Zechariahasked, how will I know for sure?

(09:33):
And he struck mute. Notbecause he asked a question of God,
but because he asked. From aposture of control he comes. He's
part of the elite class. He'sa priest in the temple. He's part
of the religious structure.Even if he's not abusing the religious
structure, his question showsa level of entitlement. Like I deserve

(09:56):
an answer here. Mary asks, howcan this be? It's the same confusion,
but a different heart. Sheisn't demanding proof. She's asking
for understanding whilestaying in the conversation. And
Heaven honors that. Heavenalways honors honest questioning.

(10:16):
That comes from surrender, notsuspicion. Then Gabriel gives her
something she. She can touch.A sign. Your cousin Elizabeth, old
in years, called Baron. She'salready pregnant. What? I mean. I
mean, the. The questions keepcoming for Mary. At this point in

(10:39):
her life, she. She's aunnoticed in an unnoticed town, an
overlooked town. And so firstangel says, hey, you found favor
with the Lord. Okay, that washard enough. Now you're telling me
that your cousin, my cousinElizabeth, who's barren and an old

(11:03):
lady, is pregnant. This hasn'thappened since Abram and Sarah. God
knows that. We need livingproof. It's not like he wasn't going
to provide it to Zechariah.Was the fact that Zechariah was demanding
it. So God understands that weneed some assurances, evidence in

(11:28):
flesh and blood, somethingthat we can visit and talk to and
hold on to. Faith grows easierwhen we can see grace in someone
else's life, which is theimportance of testimony. Gabriel
also says the Holy Spirit willovershadow. That's a powerful word.
It echoes Exodus 40, when theglory of God overshadowed the tabernacle.

(11:53):
So the same glory that hoveredover the tabernacle, the same glory
that was present in the holyof holies, that this is the same
glory that's now going tohover over Mary. It echoes the Transfiguration
when the cloud overshadowedthe disciples. The same presence
that rested on the mercy seatnow rests on Mary. Her womb becomes

(12:18):
the holy of holies. God makeshis home with us again. And then
Mary speaks the words thatmake her the first Christian disciple.
Although Christianity as weunderstand it, did not yet exist.
Here am I. Let it be accordingto your word. There was no negotiation,

(12:42):
no conditions, just trust.Now, here's the part we often skip
during Advent. Mary'ssurrender did not lead her into peace.
We. It's so interesting to mehow we like to clean up Christmas.
It was so messy. Even Jesusbirth. And I mean, it came into so

(13:06):
much chaos. And yet we. And Idon't say that we shouldn't lament
the chaos, but. But we're. Whyare we perplexed by it? I guess my
question, why are we perplexedwhen chaos continues to persist?
So at least, you know, not thecalm, quiet kind that we like to

(13:26):
imagine. That peace did notexist for Mary. Her reputation was
at risk. Her engagement hungin the balance. Her future became
uncertain. Her life was aboutto be turned upside down. This is
the scripture assigned for theweek of peace. It almost feels ironic
because Gabriel's announcementdid not create peace around Mary.

(13:50):
It created upheaval. And thatbrings us to something we need to
hear in 2025. Peace inScripture is not the absence of conflict.
Peace is God stepping into theconflict. Jesus warned the disciples
that the days of turmoil wouldcome. Neighbor against neighbor,
family against family, voicescrying chaos and confusion. He even

(14:15):
said his coming would dividebefore it united because his presence
exposes every false peace thatwe cling to, whether it be financial,
family, you know, whatever,whatever your definition of peace
is, whatever your Hallmarkcard looks like, whatever your painting
of peace looks like, whateveryou're clinging to, that's a false

(14:39):
peace if that peace is notGod. And we are living in days that
feel like that. Nations areshaking, families are strained. We
have come out of four of themost difficult years as a result
of COVID as a result of justcrazy monetary policies, you know,

(15:02):
and families are fraying,communities are fraying, anxiety
is rising. This will beanother podcast that we do. But 45%
of young men under the age of25, between the ages of 18, 25 Gen
Z men have never asked a girlon a date in person. This is the

(15:22):
society that we're living intoday. They're so afraid of rejection
that it feels like death, thatit feels like danger to them. They
don't ask a girl out inperson. We long for peace, but the
world gives us noise. We longfor rest, but the headlines give
us storms. We long forcertainty, but life feels unsettled.

(15:43):
Everything in us wants calm.Everything around us feels shaken.
But Mary shows us where realpeace begins. Peace does not start
when circumstances calm down.Peace starts when we surrender to
the God who steps into thosecircumstances. Mary accepted temporary
upheaval so the world couldknow eternal freedom. She trusted

(16:07):
that the birth pains wereworth the promise. She believed God
was doing something biggerthan her fear, bigger than her confusion,
bigger than her story. Maybethat speaks to you. Maybe your life
feels like Mary's Questionsyou don't know the answer to situations
that you don't know how tofix. News that arrived out of nowhere

(16:31):
and turned everything upsidedown. Mary's story is a promise to
every one of us who'veexperienced or are experiencing these
situations. Maybe you'recarrying a weight you didn't choose.
Maybe your husband walked downon you or your wife walked out on

(16:52):
you. Maybe you found out thatyou just had a miscarriage right
here at Christmas time. Maybeyou're still grieving the loss of
a loved one, the first holidaywithout. Maybe you're trying to walk
in obedience when the roadahead feels unclear. Maybe you're
longing for peace, but livingintention. Hear this. The same spirit

(17:16):
who overshadowed Mary's Marystands with you. The same spirit
that hovered over the holy ofHolies, the mercy seat in the holy
of Holies. The same spiritwho. Who was in the tabernacle. The
same Spirit of Exodus 40. Thesame grace that went before Mary

(17:40):
goes before you. And the sameJesus she carried now carries you.
You don't create peace.Politicians do not create peace.
Empires and kings cannotfacilitate peace. You receive it.
You don't manufacture it. Yousurrender to it. Mary's words become

(18:04):
our prayer. Here I am, Lord.Let it be to me according to your
word. And in that moment,right there in the surrender, the
kingdom of God breaks in. Notin the absence of chaos, but in the
middle of it. That is thepeace of Advent. That's the peace

(18:26):
that God gives us. A peacethat finds us not a peace. We find
a peace that steadies us, apeace that will one day make all
things new. And so today, ifthat's you, if you find yourself
in the midst of chaos, findhope that peace is not in the absence

(18:49):
of the chaos, but God in themiddle of your chaos. If you found
this message helpful today,helpful, please share it. We thank
you for making us part of thetop 20 podcast in religion and spirituality
on Apple. And I'm not surewhat we mark, what we're ranked on

(19:12):
Spotify. It's not really anego thing, but it is. I just like
to see who we're reaching andI look at these analytics on a regular
basis and we've got theYouTube channel up now, and I'm struggling
to try to keep that updatedand figuring out all the SEO and
everything that goes withthat. So the more organic we get,

(19:33):
the less advertising I have todo, the more that you promote it
with your friends andneighbors and family, you know, please,
please do it. Because the showgrew so rapidly. One of my sponsors
or one of the places that Iuse to insert ads or the place I
was hosting my podcast on,Spreaker, they're connected with

(19:55):
iHeartradio. They tried toaccuse me of cheating and so they
demonetized it. So I'm tryingto find a different platform. Captivate
FM. I appreciate them. Youknow, iHeartRadio, Spreaker, they're
completely secular companiesand you can just listen to their
ads. You know that they areanything but Christ driven. But anyway,

(20:19):
so, you know, that's just,that's just part of it. But if you
can help by spreading the wordfor this podcast, that'd be awful.
Awesome. Not awful. But thankyou for joining me today. And on
Echoes Through Eternity. Maythe peace of Christ overshadow your
heart as it overshadowed Mary,and may his kingdom come through

(20:41):
your life in ways you neverexpected. I'll see you next time.
Have a great day. As we closetoday, remember this. The calling
of God does not fade becausethe road gets complicated. It deepens
if the weight feels heavy. Youare not weak. You are human. And

(21:02):
you are never meant to carrythis alone. Faithfulness often sounds
quiet. It looks like showingup again. It looks like wisdom, looks
like asking for help beforedamage is done. The kingdom is not
built on charisma. It's builton obedience, courage, and endurance.

(21:23):
Wherever you're listeningfrom, may you be reminded that your
labor is not wasted, yourcalling is not fragile, and your
story is still being writtenby the hands of a faithful God. Until
next time, I'm Dr. Jeffrey D.Skinner, and this is Echoes Through
Eternity. If you found thishelpful, please share with your friends

(21:44):
and tell your loved ones. Thisepisode of Echoes Through Eternity
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