Advent – Hope is on the Horizon

On a day when hope seemed lost, Jesus Christ the Messiah was born!  

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it. – John 1:5 NLT

I love Christmas lights! I love to drive through my neighborhood at night and see the festive glow of holiday cheer. Or to settle in for the evening and gaze at the flickering lights on my Christmas tree. Christmas may be over-materialized, but the beautiful lights are fitting because this is a time when we celebrate the light of the world entering humanity and bringing hope.

As we enter the advent season, we are reminded of the hope we have in Christ now and the eternal hope that is on the horizon. A hope that provides:

Help for our weary souls – Each year we have struggles, but for many of us, 2020 has produced struggles in overdrive. When the pandemic first reared its ugly head many months ago, we could not have anticipated how long it would go and how bad it would get. Today we are weary. Weary from the pain and loneliness. Weary from the fear and worry. Weary from the unknown and the unexpected. But Christmas reminds us that hope is not lost! Jesus offers help for our weary souls.

I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. – Psalm 121:1-2 CSB

Overcoming power – Jesus’ birth was a reminder that God is in control. His death and resurrection sealed the deal. And one day His return to reign and rule will make it all complete. In the meantime, God has placed His Holy Spirit in those of us who believe in Jesus for salvation. The same power that brought about the virgin birth and raised Jesus from the grave lives in us. (Romans 8:11) We are overcomers in Christ!

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. – 1 John 4:4 NASB

Peace in the storms – One of the most incredible things about surrendering your life to Jesus is the peace you receive. A peace that enables you to face your trials without falling apart. A peace that sometimes makes no earthly sense. A peace that comes from the Savior of your soul. This holiday season, tap into that peace.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

Expectation of God’s promises fulfilled – The birth of Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s long awaited promise of a Savior and a guarantee that He will keep His word. All of God’s promises are answered with a “yes” in Jesus. (2 Corinthians 1:20) No matter what the current state of the world is, or what your current circumstances look like, God will fulfill His purposes and His promises.

And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. – Romans 8:28 AMP

As Christmas approaches, don’t let the craziness distract you from the reason for the season. We celebrate the birth of the Savior and along with His arrival, the reminder that there is always hope!