Christmas should be a time of joyful celebration and goodwill toward one another because God has given all people his son, Jesus Christ, to save anyone who trusts in him. However, for many people Christmas is not joyful, peaceful, or hopeful. It can be an emotional, dysfunctional, and stressful time. Some people look back over the year in regret over decisions they have made or things that did or didn’t happen. Some people grieve over the loss of a loved one and are saddened by the thought of trying to celebrate Christmas without them. Some people wring their hands as they ring in a new year, because very little seems right, interesting, or worthwhile. Tragically, for some people the future seems so bleak that they lose all hope and commit suicide. According to the Center for Disease Control, in the United States, suicide has increased 36% in the last twenty years and has become the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 20-34. How are you doing this Christmas season? Are you doing well? Are you just okay? Or are you barely hanging in there? Don’t give up.
Develop Hope
In their book, “Hope in the Age of Anxiety” psychology professors Anthony Scioli and Henry Biller propose that hopelessness develops from a a lack of attachment, a lack of productivity, or a lack of victory over challenges. This leads to alienation, forsakenness, lack of inspiration, doom, helplessness or powerlessness, captivity, oppression, and limitedness. There are some simple disciplines to develop which can improve your hope like: counting your blessings, emphasizing the positive, limiting the negative, reducing stress, setting goals and working toward them, surrounding yourself with hopeful people, and sharing your struggles. But by far the best thing you can do is to cultivate a close relationship with Jesus, the hope of the world.
In contemplating hope, I can’t help but recall the words of my grandmother, “Don’t expect much and you won’t be disappointed.” Although that is true, I suggest ignoring her advice. Although it can shield you from some sadness and vulnerability, it can also isolate you from the joy and hope found in the risk of trusting and loving. Instead, I encourage you to shift your focus this Christmas. Like the wise men, the Magi from the east, who set out to find the hope God promised to bring the world, you may travel in darkness, but you don’t have to stumble through. They found their way to infant Jesus because they followed the star God gave to lead them (Matthew 2:1-12). Likewise, don’t lose your way by fixating on yourself or your circumstances. Look to God. He has given you a light in Jesus to lead you through this dark world so you can experience his everlasting love, joy, peace, and hope.
Only Jesus can fully address your hopelessness whether it be a lack of attachment, a lack of productivy, or a lack of victory over challenges. Jesus will transform you from the inside out if you trust and obey him. Only he can attach you to God and restore that divine relationship you were designed for and long for. Only through him can you find meaning and be productive in what really matters and lasts. He guides and empowers you in the greatest of all endeavors which is to love God and love others above yourself. Only he can help you overcome both internal and external challenges especially your self-centered nature. As a human he faced all the temptation, suffering, and evil you could ever face, yet he was without sin. Therefore only he was qualified to became sin for you, so you might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15). Because he has conquered sin and death, as well as, their effects like depression, anxiety, distrust, loss, fear, and hopelessness he can give you victory in every aspect of life.
Even though people fail or things don’t always work out, God never fails and he has a glorious plan for you which he will work out no matter what for those who place their faith in him. Although you will experience difficulty and disappointment in this fallen world of broken people, God promises to work everything together for good for those who love him (Romans 8:28).
Hope for Israel and You
Years ago, around 580 BCE, the nation of Israel felt hopeless after returning from exile in Babylon. They despaired as if God did not see them, understand them, regard their plight, or care enough to intervene. Nothing could be further from the truth for them then or for you now. God comforted Israel through the prophet Isaiah. Here is part of his encouragement from Isaiah chapter 40.
“‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’
“Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.
“Why do you complain, Jacob [another name for Israel]? Why do you say, Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God’? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:3-5, 10-15, 27-31).
Hope This Christmas
Can you see the hope that God offered Israel. It’s the same hope he offers you. The promise the almighty, loving God gave Israel of revealing his glory so they can defeat despair, rise above difficulty, overcome death, and soar like eagles has been fulfilled in Jesus. He is God the Son, who stepped down from heaven and took on flesh in order to save the world. That’s what Christmas is all about—God became a man so that humankind could know God. In your wilderness wandering, make way for God to deliver you by faith. You don’t have to despair as if God does not see you, understand you, regard your plight, or love you enough to intervene. God created you. He knows everything about you, even how you have rebelled against him, and yet he still loves you. He sent Jesus to rescue you (Romans 5:8). Jesus lived the life you should live and died the death that you deserve for your wrongdoing. Then he rose again to conquer death and sin. Without Jesus you will miss what God has for you now and you will suffer the wages of your sin which is death and eternal separation from God and all that is good, right, and loving (Romans 6:23-24; Revelation 19:11-21:8). With Jesus you have the guarantee of his everlasting life, restoration, and hope if you trust and obey him (John 3:16-21).
Conclusion
God has given you a light in Jesus to lead you through this dark world so you can experience his everlasting love, joy, peace and hope. Don’t stumble in the darkness, living without hope. Choose Jesus. Confess to him any wrongdoing. Ask him how to live rightly. Then trust and obey what he tells you. With Jesus you can be forgiven, live, and thrive now and forever. Jesus is the light of the world. He wants to shine in you and through you. I’ll end with a prayer from the apostle Paul for believers.
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). This Christmas discover the hope of Jesus and help others do the same.
Note: For some biblical steps toward cultivating hope you might enjoy the article, “13 Practical Ways to Choose Hope” by Monica Bass.