A Thrill of Hope

When you think of the word 'hope', what comes to mind?
It usually inspires all sorts of good feelings, right?

Well, confession: Sometimes when I think of hope I get sad and frustrated feelings instead. Maybe even angry.

It stems from the fact that often when I'm having a hard time or going through a trial I cling to any little glimpse of hope that I can find that the trial will be over soon or I imagine some crazy and miraculous thing that will take place because of it, etc. I cling so tightly to these feelings that I often begin thinking of them as fact and not just a little glimpse of hope. To put it simply, I get my hopes up.

And, often I am disappointed, because, as I'm sure you well know, not every hope we cling to comes true.

So, I found myself wondering a few days ago why I should even hope for things at all if I'll only disappointed. That way if what I'm hoping for at the time does happen it will just be a happy surprise.

As I was thinking about this it hit me like a ton of bricks. Without hope things become meaningless. It would be nearly impossible to keep going when we find outselves in the dark times of our lives without it. If we truly had no hope we wouldn't persevere through hard things.

Tonight I was listening to my very favorite Christmas song, O Holy Night. I really paid attention to the lyrics for the first time in a long time. I often get so caught up in singing along to Christmas music since it's played so often during this time that I usually just sing along without even thinking.

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!



Can you imagine being on the earth at that time? Can you imagine being given the news that our Savior is born and has come to redeem the world? Can you even imagine what feelings of joy and hope that would completely fill your being?

The lines I highlighted particularly stuck out to me tonight. Especially the last two in the verse. On the very first Christmas Eve the world was given the greatest Christmas present ever received, and along with Him, an ultimate hope for all. A hope you can look to and believe in and never ever be disappointed. The world had laid in sin up to that point. There was hope of a Savior, but on that night it became an even brighter hope because what so many had hoped for was really starting to happen. He was born and He died for us so that we could have a hope that wouldn't let us down. So that we could have a reason to continue on and have something real to hold on to. A way to endure the trials of this life with great strength and know that it would all be worth it in the end. A way to find peace and happiness even during our trials. A way to make it back to Heaven someday.

So, even if the things I hope for don't work out I can have absolute hope that if I continue to live as I believe I should everything will work out for my good and what really matters will happen.

And that brings all sorts of good feelings to mind.

All of this has been one of the most lovely reminders of what Christmas is really all about I've ever had.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.