Does Christmas hope seem a little too hard to imagine? Does hope, in general, seem far off? Let’s take a look at the Christmas story…

At some point in your life, you’ve felt it.  That thrill of hope.

It could’ve been as a child, as the first guest arrived for a special birthday party or the first gifts started appearing under the tree at Christmas.

Maybe as a teen, it was that rush of graduation, a feeling of accomplishment, and hope for the next chapter of life.

Or maybe your first real job.  What a thrill of hope on that first day, excited to pursue your passion and calling.

Perhaps you felt that thrill of hope as you woke up on the morning of your wedding day or at the birth or adoption of a child.  Hope for all the memories and experiences and beautiful moments ahead in life.

But then what?  What about when hopes are dashed and first jobs don’t pan out like you’d thought and marriage is really hard some days?  What about the loss of a loved one or seasons when it seems that there are more disastrous moments than beautiful ones?

What then?

I ask because life has led me to all those places and asking the same question.  And yet, here is what God says about the “what then?” moments…

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

Psalm 42:11

I love the Christmas season because it organically just feels so full of hope!  It’s a time of the year when it feels most likely for the entire to world to let down its’ guard and reveal peace, kindness, grace, and love.

In fact, my inspiration song for today is famously known for a point in history when warring soldiers did exactly that; laid down their weapons and enjoyed a Christmas of peace.

“O Holy Night” has been a symbol of peace and hope for generations.  I like to think all the way back to that night (or day) in Bethlehem, though, and imagine.  Generation after generation had been waiting for the Messiah.  Anxiously awaiting, hopeful for peace in their tumultuous world.

What an incredible thrill of hope Mary and Joseph must have felt.  And as word got out about the birth of Jesus, the excitement…the thrill…of hopefulness for an entire nation.

The weary world could rejoice.  Jesus was born!  Hope was a tangible thing that could be touched, seen, and heard.

All in the sound of an infant’s cry.

Hope for this modern year isn’t going to be heard in the sound of an infant Messiah’s cry.  Hope for you…today…though, has to be something you choose.

I often realize that I’m only looking for hope in the “next great thing” that might happen to me.  In reality, hope sometimes…even often…doesn’t shine brightly until the current circumstance seems very dim.

This quote from Ann Voskamp always comes to mind when I think about hope.

“Hope is not the belief that things will turn out well

but the belief that God is working through all things…

no matter how they turn out.”

-Ann Voskamp

My hope…the real thrill of hope…comes in trusting Him.  The only One who sees all and knows all and is working through all things.

Even in weariness, I can rejoice.  Even in a world darkened with hate, I can believe.  Even in circumstances I don’t understand, I will choose Hope.

Here are three ways I actively choose hope:

1. I work on cultivating a grateful heart.  There is so much good and so much evidence of Hope, but we have to be looking for it.
2. By nature, I am a do-er.  For me, choosing hope often looks like actually doing something.  You can find hope by providing hope, one person and one small action at a time.  Sometimes doing great and wonderful things actually happens by small, consistent actions over time.
3. Pray for a hopeful heart.  God commands us to live with hope (Jeremiah 17:7) and He will never require something from us that He is unwilling to help us do.

My prayer for you…and for myself…this season is that we can keep Hope as our Christmas focus.

He came, into a dusty barn, surrounded by the poorest of the poor, into a bleak and ugly world, so that you and I could have the Hope of Christmas.  That alone is evidence of His desire to give us hope.  

In our “what then?” moments, we can find all our hope in Him.

“A thrill of Hope, the weary world rejoices.”

I’d love for you to follow me on social media!  You can find my home decor inspiration on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!  

Blessings,