I don’t know about you but I am puttering into December tired, running on empty … weary. I’m exhausted by all the decisions that need to be made, ranging from how we will celebrate the holidays this year to the safest way to grocery shop. I crave connection with friends I have not been able to see in person. I wonder if I have done enough to help those less fortunate than my family, those suffering from injustice. There’s more, but you get the gist!

I know all the things that will help in these moments -- prayer, listing gratitude, spending time in my Bible, reaching out to friends. I know the importance of these things; I know they will help. But right now, as we wait and pray for peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), our joy to be complete (John 15:11), love that abounds (Philippians 1:9), those things just seem to not be enough. My mind says that I should be doing more. But then I remember hope, blessed hope. Jesus. All those spiritual disciplines are there to remind us to fix our eyes on Jesus. Fixate on the one who left His throne in heaven and voluntarily came down to earth to walk alongside us. He is the one to teach us, guide us, and bring hope of what’s already ours and what is still to come. Hope of redemption, forgiveness, eternity. To give us the greatest present possible – Himself.

“O Holy Night” has always been my favorite Christmas carol. It signals the start of the Christmas season every year and helps me reflect on the significance of December. Every verse simply and intentionally points to Jesus. As I listened this year, the verse “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices. For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn,” stood out to me like never before. It prompted me to be still, ask questions and pay attention. I certainly have the weary part down! But am I rejoicing as I remember the importance of Jesus’ birth? Does the hope that holy night provides, thrill me? Am I focusing my heart and energy on the right things?

As I imagine that first Christmas, I am sure the people alive at that time desperately needed hope. Generation after generation lived through 400 years of silence from God. It had been 700 years since Isaiah prophesied that a child would be born for us and called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). The people had been waiting for so long and God seemed so far away. They found themselves living in an occupied land, under foreign rule, at the mercy of Roman law. Their hope rested on a Messiah who was nowhere to be found. I imagine a weary world, expectant, longing. Does that seem very far from where we find ourselves today?

Thankfully, our God is always making things new, in His way and perfect timing. After 400 years of silence, He finally sent His son to fulfill the covenant he made with Abraham, knowing that in our humanness we could never get it right without Him. Each morning we know new mercies await us (Lamentations 3:22-23). But particularly on Christmas morning we can rejoice knowing that our hope has come and we can enjoy all it provides us, all it allows us. Not reliant on the world or our own striving and doing, we place our hope on the baby born this holy night. The weary world can now rejoice and thrill in the hope of God’s promise fulfilled … our King has come!

ABOUT OUR BLOGGER

An eternal optimist, Melanie Wilson is on board for anything that involves books, sunflowers, coffee, the WVU Mountaineers, Bible Study and laughter. She recently obtained a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and pinches herself every day that her passion is now her profession. Melanie and her husband, Jim, love their front row seats cheering on their daughter, spending time with family and friends and binge-watching football on crisp fall weekends.

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CHRISTMAS 2020 at Willowdale Chapel

We hope you’ll join us for our online service Christmas Service and outdoor caroling and devotions on December 23 and 24, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior! For more details, click here..