Hope in Christ
November 2021
(You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word Psalm 119:114)
This is the season when we celebrate the greatest event in the history of the world: the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. His birth, death, and resurrection transformed the world forever. One of the many blessings that accompanied the birth of Jesus was the gift of hope for flawed people living in a fallen world. Because He lives, you and I have hope. No matter how dark our personal circumstances may seem at any given point in time, we know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that light is Jesus Christ.
While Christmas is full of joy and celebration, the world is not exempt from sorrow during this season. For many of us, our hurting hearts experience intensified ache as memories flood our minds. Perhaps the memory is of a loved one now in heaven. Maybe the memory haunts as part of a painful past; something we wish could be changed or undone. Pain not only exists from the past, but in the daily present. Discouragement doesn’t stop lurking. Disease doesn’t stop waging its war. Death doesn’t pause for a few days. No matter what is causing your hurt, allow yourself the opportunity to recognize the struggle you feel during the holiday season. Think also of your friends or family who may benefit from words of encouragement for hard times. When a difficult holiday is threatening to overwhelm you or a loved one, call to mind the many uplifting Bible verses about trusting in God in hard times.
Mother Mary didn’t have the easiest of time to give birth to Jesus. She prepared for the arrival of her baby. But a business trip for tax purposes was probably the last thing on her agenda. Riding a donkey most likely would have been her last wish in her ninth month of pregnancy. The point is: Jesus wasn’t born into ideal circumstances. Despite the stable which most of us would deem unsuitable accommodations, the Light of the World made His grand entrance in the form of a little baby. Human flesh held the Son of God, and the glory of the night could not be contained. Angels sang their glory to God and hope, true Hope for the world was born! Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased! Luke 2:14. Regardless of the trials you face during the Christmas season, the gift you need the most is the One who longs to live in your heart. Despite the tough circumstances you’re facing, God’s plan is the best plan for your life; He loves you too much to think anything otherwise. No matter the ache or the longing, the sorrow or the suffering, the birth of Jesus brought hope and healing to the entire world.
For this, we can celebrate with JOY! Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16,17. When you walk with the Lord, you walk in hope. To hope is to look forward to a better future and trust that it will occur. Hope is one of the most powerful forces known to man. It’s an intangible concept that can produce tangible results. In fact, hope can be the difference between life and death. People have survived grueling ordeals, major injuries, and serious illnesses because they had hope, while others in the same situation have died because they lost hope. Hope is that invisible force that keeps us going when we feel like giving up. People can endure most anything as long as they have hope.
The reason hope is such a powerful force, at least for Christians, is because it comes from trusting in Jesus Christ. Unless Christ is the source of your hope, you hope in vain. For many people, particularly unbelievers, this is precisely what happens. To the secular world, hoping is synonymous with wishing. People often say they “hope” something will happen when what they really mean is they wish it would happen but don’t really expect it to. This is like the student who after skipping half of the class meetings, doing little of the assigned homework, and failing the mid-term exam says he “hoped” he would pass the course. Like others who confuse hope with wishful thinking, he was trusting to chance for a positive outcome.
For Christians, hope is something altogether different. Hope in the Biblical sense is synonymous with trust. We have hope because we trust in the Lord, and we know the Lord oversees every aspect of our lives. When our hope is based on trust in God, we don’t just wish for a certain outcome, we expect it. Instead of leaving the things we hope for to chance, we place them at the feet of Christ and trust the outcome to Him. We can trust in Christ because we know he will provide what we need, although not necessarily what we want.
I need to emphasize that last point. God provides what we need, not what we want. Christians who hope for the things of the world—a bigger house, nicer car, more money, increased power, or enhanced status—may be disappointed, even if they place their desires at the feet of Christ. Why? Because what we hope for should honour God rather than indulging selfish human desires; it should align with the teachings of Scripture. God knows your heart and He knows what you need. Therefore, you can trust Him to provide what you need.
When your world falls apart and hope deserts you, place your burdens at the feet of Christ. Find hope in the fact that God knows what is best for you. Trust in Him and understand beforehand that any outcome decreed by God is the right outcome, even if it is not the one you hoped for. In some cases, it can take years for you to understand how and why God used certain events, tragedies, and setbacks in your life. But if you trust in God, it is enough to know that He will use the troubles you face for good. This is why you can have hope in even the darkest of circumstances. This is a lesson you and I will do well to learn; a lesson that comes from Hebrews 10:23 where we read: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” If we look to the Lord and wait for Him, He will hear our pleas (Micah 7:7).
When you are weighed down by troubles and feel hopeless, rather than give up and quit, get down on your knees and pray. Ask God to be your hiding place until the trouble passes. Ask Him to be your shield from the forces of darkness that assail you. Then search His Word for the reassurance, assistance, and hope you need to survive your ordeal. Life is seldom easy, and people often let you down, but God is faithful. He will never let you down. Look to Him for hope in times of trouble and you will find it in abundance. Romans 15:13 where we read: “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.”
Know someone who is having a difficult Christmas? Reach out to them right now with a loving message. Let them know you are praying for them, spend some time with them, and maybe even send them a sweet gift. Whatever you do, be sure to encourage them with God’s pure light this Christmas season.
While Christmas is full of joy and celebration, the world is not exempt from sorrow during this season. For many of us, our hurting hearts experience intensified ache as memories flood our minds. Perhaps the memory is of a loved one now in heaven. Maybe the memory haunts as part of a painful past; something we wish could be changed or undone. Pain not only exists from the past, but in the daily present. Discouragement doesn’t stop lurking. Disease doesn’t stop waging its war. Death doesn’t pause for a few days. No matter what is causing your hurt, allow yourself the opportunity to recognize the struggle you feel during the holiday season. Think also of your friends or family who may benefit from words of encouragement for hard times. When a difficult holiday is threatening to overwhelm you or a loved one, call to mind the many uplifting Bible verses about trusting in God in hard times.
Mother Mary didn’t have the easiest of time to give birth to Jesus. She prepared for the arrival of her baby. But a business trip for tax purposes was probably the last thing on her agenda. Riding a donkey most likely would have been her last wish in her ninth month of pregnancy. The point is: Jesus wasn’t born into ideal circumstances. Despite the stable which most of us would deem unsuitable accommodations, the Light of the World made His grand entrance in the form of a little baby. Human flesh held the Son of God, and the glory of the night could not be contained. Angels sang their glory to God and hope, true Hope for the world was born! Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased! Luke 2:14. Regardless of the trials you face during the Christmas season, the gift you need the most is the One who longs to live in your heart. Despite the tough circumstances you’re facing, God’s plan is the best plan for your life; He loves you too much to think anything otherwise. No matter the ache or the longing, the sorrow or the suffering, the birth of Jesus brought hope and healing to the entire world.
For this, we can celebrate with JOY! Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16,17. When you walk with the Lord, you walk in hope. To hope is to look forward to a better future and trust that it will occur. Hope is one of the most powerful forces known to man. It’s an intangible concept that can produce tangible results. In fact, hope can be the difference between life and death. People have survived grueling ordeals, major injuries, and serious illnesses because they had hope, while others in the same situation have died because they lost hope. Hope is that invisible force that keeps us going when we feel like giving up. People can endure most anything as long as they have hope.
The reason hope is such a powerful force, at least for Christians, is because it comes from trusting in Jesus Christ. Unless Christ is the source of your hope, you hope in vain. For many people, particularly unbelievers, this is precisely what happens. To the secular world, hoping is synonymous with wishing. People often say they “hope” something will happen when what they really mean is they wish it would happen but don’t really expect it to. This is like the student who after skipping half of the class meetings, doing little of the assigned homework, and failing the mid-term exam says he “hoped” he would pass the course. Like others who confuse hope with wishful thinking, he was trusting to chance for a positive outcome.
For Christians, hope is something altogether different. Hope in the Biblical sense is synonymous with trust. We have hope because we trust in the Lord, and we know the Lord oversees every aspect of our lives. When our hope is based on trust in God, we don’t just wish for a certain outcome, we expect it. Instead of leaving the things we hope for to chance, we place them at the feet of Christ and trust the outcome to Him. We can trust in Christ because we know he will provide what we need, although not necessarily what we want.
I need to emphasize that last point. God provides what we need, not what we want. Christians who hope for the things of the world—a bigger house, nicer car, more money, increased power, or enhanced status—may be disappointed, even if they place their desires at the feet of Christ. Why? Because what we hope for should honour God rather than indulging selfish human desires; it should align with the teachings of Scripture. God knows your heart and He knows what you need. Therefore, you can trust Him to provide what you need.
When your world falls apart and hope deserts you, place your burdens at the feet of Christ. Find hope in the fact that God knows what is best for you. Trust in Him and understand beforehand that any outcome decreed by God is the right outcome, even if it is not the one you hoped for. In some cases, it can take years for you to understand how and why God used certain events, tragedies, and setbacks in your life. But if you trust in God, it is enough to know that He will use the troubles you face for good. This is why you can have hope in even the darkest of circumstances. This is a lesson you and I will do well to learn; a lesson that comes from Hebrews 10:23 where we read: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” If we look to the Lord and wait for Him, He will hear our pleas (Micah 7:7).
When you are weighed down by troubles and feel hopeless, rather than give up and quit, get down on your knees and pray. Ask God to be your hiding place until the trouble passes. Ask Him to be your shield from the forces of darkness that assail you. Then search His Word for the reassurance, assistance, and hope you need to survive your ordeal. Life is seldom easy, and people often let you down, but God is faithful. He will never let you down. Look to Him for hope in times of trouble and you will find it in abundance. Romans 15:13 where we read: “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.”
Know someone who is having a difficult Christmas? Reach out to them right now with a loving message. Let them know you are praying for them, spend some time with them, and maybe even send them a sweet gift. Whatever you do, be sure to encourage them with God’s pure light this Christmas season.
