As the aroma of Christmas cookies baking fills my house & my Christmas tree lights are twinkling, I can’t help but think, this is the most wonderful time of the year…
And truly, for many reasons it is. However, there’s one reason—far above cookies, lights, Christmas parties, wish lists, and our favorite holiday tunes—that makes this season filled with incredible wonder and unshakable HOPE: the birth of Jesus.
I also realize that the best of things can also be the very worst of things. While Christmas may be the most wonderful time for many reasons, it can also be a painfully difficult time.
The classic song, “O Holy Night” has a line that has stuck on my heart like glue: A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices.
Walking into this December, my world does feel weary. The past 365 days haven’t been all merry and bright—we’ve experienced our own share of dark, heavy days…the loss of a loved one; that unexpected doctors report; that relationship ending you thought would last; losing the job you worked so hard for; finances just not adding up…the list goes on.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices.
That line doesn’t say “but” or “when” or “even though”. It just states what is. This one, holy night we celebrate the birth of Jesus—our thrill of HOPE—and we rejoice. We are weary and we rejoice.
When my heart and world is weary, I can still rejoice because my HOPE in eternal, unwavering, unchanging.
THIS is what makes Christmas the most wonderful time of the year—and what Christmas is all about—being reminded that no matter what we’re experiencing and walking through we have a thrill of hope named Jesus and because we have Him, we rejoice in the midst of our weariness.
Stringing Christmas lights on my tree and dressing it with beautiful ornaments didn’t magically erase my weary soul and heavy heart. Life is still swirling around me. The days haven’t gotten any easier just because I can sip my favorite Peppermint Mocha latte out of a Starbucks holiday cup. The days are still hard and tiring and I pillow my head at night praying for wisdom and clarity and to just trust God with each step on this adventure of becoming who He made me to be. But these days, as I’m pillowing my head and whispering my prayers, I’m rejoicing. I rejoice because no matter what’s crashing in my world, I have a thrill of hope. And that Hope’s not going away. Thank you Jesus!
Warrior friend, I’m praying for you…for me…for us today to rejoice because we have HOPE. As we walk through this month together, may we experience the beautiful wonder of this season and experience the thrill of HOPE named Jesus deep within our weary hearts…and rejoice.
Founder, becomingme.tv
