How was your year?
One year, our family had a terribly challenging time. Three members all had separate extended illnesses. Job loss. Career changes. Back to school for adults. Several extended members had significant hardships. It seemed everywhere we looked, pain was present, persistent and powerful.
This anguish extended for over a year. Then one day I got a call.
It was not a call that set all events right. But it was one that caused me to truly rejoice over a circumstance. The news of that call offered me something I had not experienced in quite some time: hope. I actually felt hopeful.
Faith is being sure of what is hoped for and certain of what is not seen. And I knew as I prayed, God could solve any of those circumstances we faced. But over that year, He didn’t. Instead, He provided ways of dealing with the challenges. At the time, I didn’t treasure His methods. I plodded through each day. Swamped in situations I knew would one day be made right but I was too bogged down to hope it would be tomorrow.
But when I got that call, I truly rejoiced because something else I had prayed for, for decades, had occurred! I was so ecstatic for the other person, so grateful to God.
In the midst of the jubilee, my head allowed my heart to hope once more.
I wonder if that is what happened in Bethlehem when the shepherds saw the angels. When Mary met her midnight visitors. When the three wise men made their gifts to Jesus’ family.
The head knowledge met the heart hope and the daily burdens were temporarily forgotten as the wonder and awe caused indescribable realization and celebration. God did care!
He did see!
And, He was acting!
God wanted to offer hope to the world. That day. And everyday after. He sent His Son to woo us back to Him. To encourage us to trust God. To have a deep and abiding hope that God does indeed see His children, and He’s acting in our best interest.
Maybe you’ve had a long, hard year. Maybe you know in your head that God could indeed blink and all those hardships could be resolved. Maybe you’ve stopped asking for anything but the strength to do what you need to do at this moment.
I sincerely pray you find hope this holiday season. Hope that Jesus is a sign, that yes, God sees you.
He cares about you.
And He is already acting for you.
Regardless of what your head reasons, may your heart find encouragement to hope once more. May you find that first gift of Christmas that so many found back in Bethlehem: hope.
Let’s pray for just that.
Prayer: Dear Lord, We need hope. Your hope. Let us hope in our hearts as we wait on You. Thank You for the gift of hope you sent wrapped in a tiny little baby. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.