If you’re familiar with the 90s sitcom ‘Seinfeld’ you’ve likely heard the phrase, “Serenity now!”. In this episode, Frank Costanza is heard shouting, “Serenity now! Serenity now!” whenever he gets upset. Hearing this, his son, George asks, “What is that?” Frank explains, “When my blood pressure gets too high, the man on the tape tells me to say ‘serenity now!’” George asks, “Are you supposed to yell it?” “The man on the tape wasn’t specific,” replies Frank.
Have you ever yelled for serenity when you were upset or when life was overwhelming – too much noise, many demands, multiple obligations, disagreements, or bad news? Frank thought he could simply demand serenity as if it were a magical phrase that would elicit calmness and low blood pressure. Our need for serenity is more of a plea than a demand. It’s a petition, a prayer from a soul that seeks rest and renewal.
Serenity requires intentionality. We must deliberately pause, and be still in God’s presence. If we’re not intentional, then we’ll remain stuck in the status quo. The season of Advent is a reminder to pause and reflect on the peace, love, and joy that our souls yearn for. To ‘reflect’ in this sense is to meditate and contemplate these fruit of the spirit. How do we feel peace? What is real love? What makes me joyful? When we intentionally pause to be with God, he tells us that the answer to each of these reflective questions is the same: Jesus.
Jesus is the answer. Everything else in our lives falls short – jobs, money, relationships, busyness, materialism – none of these can ever satisfy our deepest longings or replenish us. Only Jesus: the Prince of Peace; the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6); the one and only Son of God sacrificed because of God’s love for us (John 3:16).
Jesus is our ‘serenity now’ (no exclamation point needed). Jesus is our serenity later. Jesus is our serenity in the thick of it. Pause today. Be intentionally still. Refuel your soul with God’s peace that exceeds our understanding (Philippians 4:7) and you’ll be ready to face the world again. Then, with intentionality, come back to dwell there again (and again and again…). Feel God’s love rest upon you. Reflect on the hope and peace found there, and meditate on a love that is so high and so deep that we can’t fully fathom it! Celebrate Emmanuel, God with us.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation.
The Lord be with you all.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NLT)