Picture milky sunlight barely breaking through on a cloudy day. The glimmer of the sun’s rays work hard to shine brightly while gray clouds work harder to dispel them. In this snapshot hope seems lost.
The holiday season can look like milky sunlight ready for its big break. You sense a drifting through the days while still participating in all the holiday activities because that is what is expected. You look around and catch the joy on everyone’s face and wonder “where is my joy”? The picture before you leaves you unsatisfied. You begin searching for hope in the holidays while a quiet niggling says it is futile. Next, you create a mental list with a reality check of this holiday season. The list begins like this…
What if…
This year you have a grief-washed soul. A piece of your heart is missing and the emptiness feels immense.
You’re overworked and overwhelmed. Your job is stressful plus the family commitments filling up your calendar leave no whitespace to just breathe.
The holidays typically knock the wind out of you rather than fill you with joy.
Your future is uncertain as you search for a new job. Finances are tight and Christmas cheer comes at a cost.
Where is the hope in a season that proclaims peace, hope and joy? How will you find hope in the middle of a hopeless season? Who or what brings you joy?
Then this promise comes across your path as you turn to God’s Word.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
In this season of waiting, preparing and seeking, one glimpse of hope leads to another. The “what ifs” turn into “now what” and hope is born.
[Tweet “God prepared a way in the wilderness of our hearts for a Savior to be born.”]
God prepared a way in the wilderness of our hearts for a Savior to be born. When despair filled the emptiness, God sent love in the form of a baby. Hope came one night in a stable when Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary and her betrothed, Joseph. When nothing seems to be happening, everything is happening. God loves us so much that He sent His only son. Hope is reigning down as love and life is never the same again.
This season as we prepare the way for the Lord, we can rest ourselves in the truth that Emmanuel will be among us.
May we hold onto the hope found in a baby born one silent night. May these words and song bless you as you prepare the way for Jesus this Christmas season.
Rejoice, again, I say, rejoice
For unto us is born the Savior of the world
Take heart, oh weary soul, take heart
For help is on its way
And Holy is His name Matt Maher
Walking in hope,
Love this! That Romans verse is one of my very faves!
It is one of my favorites too. I pray that Advent has been a time of slowing down for you and a season of hope. Blessings!
“When nothing seems to be happening, everything is happening.” Having the hope that things are lining up without me having to do anything, is a hope I can struggle with! Your words are hope to my heart today Mary! Thank you!
It is reassuring to know that God is always working in us even when we don’t see it. ON the outside it looks like we don’t have to do anything to earn that hope but God wants us to believe and trust that He knows best. Grateful to be able to share some hope today.
“When nothing seems to be happening, everything is happening. ” Oh, my is that a frightful, yet encouraging truth! Christmas can be a glaring reminder of how our lives have not turned out the way *we* planned. But if we look through the lens of faith this can be a blessing.
It is not meant to be frightening. My own experience has taught me that God never stops working in and through us even though to us it may look that way. Christmas doesn’t always look like a Hallmark card, but God’s promise of hope that came with the birth of Jesus is one that is never broken. Advent blessings to you my friend!
Just this morning I was reading Zacharias’s words in Luke 1 about the light Jesus our Day Spring would bring those who “sit in darkness.” That’s such a warm promise of hope and joy that’s not available anywhere else.
May you continue to experience this lovely gift during the Advent season!
Hope is the light during this season and throughout the year. There are times of darkness and that is when we need to remember God’s promise told to us through Zacharias. May we all continue to experience God’s hope through this season of Advent.
Mary,
I have experienced grief-washed Christmases as you describe them. I’ve also had to be content with letting joy and pain coexist. Thank you for the needed reminder that, no matter what, hope came when the baby appeared in the manger and that gives us hope to keep on going.
Advent blessings,
Bev
I wish that grief-washed holidays were not in anyone’s future but it is part of life. Pain and joy can coexist and it is okay to recognize both at the exact time each may appear. I always pray there is grace for anyone who needs to take the time to not be okay. Advent blessings to you too.
Dear Friend …
Thanks for speaking gentle truth on where many of our sisters find themselves this Christmas.
The best thing we can offer another soul is hope … and you have done that with such lovely grace.
Advent weekend blessings to you, Mary.
This Christmas is a hard on for me and I pray my words encourage others who also might be experiencing the same thing. Hope is where it is at and Jesus brings the hope we need. Thank you for speaking truth into me as you walk the same path as I am.