Day 4: True Hope

I am challenging myself to write a short post each day of this Christmas season. You can read about my reasons why by clicking the link below:
https://www.jenniferbleakley.com/2014/11/29/may-we-see-the-importance-of-time-with-you/
Day 4: May we SEE You as True Hope
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
For many, the Christmas season is a sweet time of celebration, but for many others it brings pain and feelings of despair. It is that one time of year, when you can’t help but remember how things used to be: loved ones who used to be there, relationships that used to be better, and circumstances that brought joy and not pain, or how things still are not: empty arms still waiting to hold a baby, the unfulfilled desire for a spouse, the longing for a job.
I know many people who have endured the loss of a loved one, heartbreak, and other devastation would rather skip the Christmas season altogether, and I can’t say I blame them. However, my prayer today is that those who are hurting with that raw and gut wrenching pain, would feel the HOPE of Immanuel today. Christmas without Christ is a season of wishful hope that leaves us unsatisfied. It is a “cross my fingers” hope that the gift I want is under the tree, or a “bite my nails” hope that everything comes together and I did enough to create Christmas magic for my family. That kind of hope brings fear, frustration and failure. That kind of hope causes hurting hearts to retreat for the season, because honestly, who can deal with that kind of pressure when all you have energy for is getting out of bed in the morning and maybe brushing your teeth!
But when you invite Jesus in your Christmas season, you experience true HOPE. The Hope that says, “I don’t have to hold it all together, because He already is. The Hope that says, “The God of all comfort is holding me in the shadow of His wing.” The Hope that says, “God Almighty, the Creator of all, chose to leave the majesty and splendor of heaven, to wrap Himself in flesh and be born to a woman He created, all so that He could die on a cross to give me eternal life with Him.”
Real hope is the absolute trust and faith in God’s unfailing promises. Jesus is the fulfillment of all of God’s promise to send us a Savior; a Savior to rescue us from sin and a Savior to rescue us from despair.
May we all place our hope in Jesus this Christmas and cling to Him to help us through the hard times. May we all take comfort from knowing that our King knows the pain of death, loss and brokenness. That is why He came to earth. He came to fix and restore. He came to bring life and love. I pray for all those precious hearts that are hurting today. And I ask the “God of all Hope, to fill you with joy and peace” this Christmas season.