Peace on Earth

This is a reflection on a song that I have been listening to for weeks and cannot seem to get out of my head:

1. I heard the bells on Christmas day / Their old familiar carols play / And mild and sweet their songs repeat / Of peace on earth good will to men 
2. 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 
3. Then rang 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
4. Then 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
5. Do you hear the bells they're ringing? / The life the angels singing / Open up your heart and hear them / Peace on earth, goodwill to men

So I have been thinking a lot about this song, and how so true this is of the human spirit, especially around Christmas time. Here is what I came up with

1. The happiness of Christmas, I think this is the place where we are naively happy, meaning we have the universal happy feeling of Christmas time, but we don't have the inner joy that the knowledge of Christ's love brings. But I don't think anyone is completely ignorant of God, I think this shows that everyone recognizes this beauty, but can only see the surface.
2. Now, we face the reality of the human nature. We know that the world isn't all good and happy. We realize that this happiness is surface level, but we can't accept that it is the true nature of God. We see humanity at its very worst, and begin questioning God and humanity. Sadly, I think many people are still in this stage. 
3. This is the revelation of the love of God. It is the realization that this beauty is not the weakness in the world, but the strength and love of God. We find something well beyond ourselves, and can see beyond humanity, and find God.
4. This is joy. This is the actual revelation, of God's love, and the change as we begin to change ourselves and begin seeing more of God's Kingdom
5. This is going out and trying to show the world the love of Christ.

Now I am forcing myself to answer this, despite the fact I do not want to. Where am I? I encourage you to ask yourselves the same question, and allow yourself to answer honestly. Using the song's terminology, I can hear the bells, and I can acknowledge their beauty, but I feel like I am not truly experiencing the ringing of the bells. I think in college, I am seeing so many people ignoring God, and it's making it very hard for me to stand firm in my beliefs.

What's worse, is that they will use words like "corrupt you to the world", and frankly, it scares me. I know what they mean (they want me to loosen up and be more fun), but that is not what I want. That's not who I am. I am Destiny, the adopted child of The Lord God, Creator of the Universe, who loves me unconditionally and relentlessly. People don't see that. People treat me like I am just an ignorant child, but I am not stupid. I know I am young, but I know exactly who I am, and I don't want to change. It infuriates me that everyone wants to change me. And I am scared. I know the love of God, and the wisdom I have learned from my parents and family at Victory Christian Academy. I don't want to lose that. I never want to lose that.

I wish I could show people how powerful the Love of God really is, but I sometimes I just need to remember that myself. I feel weak sometimes, and feel the need to look for courage, even though I know I have been more courageous in the past. I don't know, but this is where I am right now, and I am trying to change this. But I have realized that I cannot change this on my own. In the past, my courage has come from God, and that is where it must come from now at my spiritual weakest. I need God to be my foundation, for even the strongest house built on the sandy shores will not stand. And let's face it, my teenage philosophy is worse than quicksand compared to the cornerstone of God's word.

Peace on Earth, Goodwill to men.