I don’t know about you all but for me, this season is either
one of joy or sorrow. Like, the Christmas Season is either the best time of the
year… or the most dreaded for several different reasons.
Perhaps you’ve been away from the pain of home, and now you’re back.
Perhaps you’ve been away from the pain of home, and now you’re back.
Maybe you having a missing piece in your family, and
holidays can never be the same.
Maybe Christmas is disappointing because you didn’t get ‘the
right gift’.
And now, with the tragedy in Connecticut, there are even more families that are going to have to begin a new Christmas tradition different from any other.
And now, with the tragedy in Connecticut, there are even more families that are going to have to begin a new Christmas tradition different from any other.
In fact, did you know that the suicide rate across America
peaks during the Holidays?
At any rate, there are tons of different reasons as to why this time of year seems to be most difficult.
At any rate, there are tons of different reasons as to why this time of year seems to be most difficult.
However, there’s a difference in being discouraged and
feeling hopeless. You know?
I can be bummed we lost a soccer game or I can feel like there is never going to be a win.
I can be disappointed in my family or I can give up on ever loving them.
I can feel distant from Jesus or I can decide that Jesus has never and will never care.
Do you see the difference?
So often in such a dark and hurting world, it’s becomes too easy to turn discouragement into hopelessness. And rightly so, because the culture we live in basically does it for us!
Our culture tells us to simply look after ourselves. Period.
Everyone else is out to get us, everyone who’s hurt us can never be forgiven and tragedies like that in Newtown is proof there is no God.
I can be bummed we lost a soccer game or I can feel like there is never going to be a win.
I can be disappointed in my family or I can give up on ever loving them.
I can feel distant from Jesus or I can decide that Jesus has never and will never care.
Do you see the difference?
So often in such a dark and hurting world, it’s becomes too easy to turn discouragement into hopelessness. And rightly so, because the culture we live in basically does it for us!
Our culture tells us to simply look after ourselves. Period.
Everyone else is out to get us, everyone who’s hurt us can never be forgiven and tragedies like that in Newtown is proof there is no God.
Especially in the Church, we mistake a season in the 'desert' as times to give up on all things relating to Christianity.
We’re so quick to turn discouragement into hopelessness.
I’m so easily reminded of the journey of the Israelites. When Moses was up on Mount Sinai for 40 days, the Israelites gave up all hope of him returning! In fact in Exodus 32 it says,
We’re so quick to turn discouragement into hopelessness.
I’m so easily reminded of the journey of the Israelites. When Moses was up on Mount Sinai for 40 days, the Israelites gave up all hope of him returning! In fact in Exodus 32 it says,
“When the people saw that Moses was so long in
coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, ‘Come, make
us gods.’”
This is exactly what we do today.
We go through a short season (a day, week, month or even
year) without feeling encouraged by God, so we turn away. Just that fast. (Let me say this, going through a season in the desert in regards to your walk with Christ WILL HAPPEN. It does not mean you have lost your salvation or love Jesus any less.)
We get hopeless in Gods sovereignty.
But, we who claim the Name of Christ have a living hope that can never come to an end.
But, we who claim the Name of Christ have a living hope that can never come to an end.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy
He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or
fade- kept in heaven for you.”
1 Peter 1:3,4
It’s by nothing we can do or by no “god” we attempt on
replacing the true God with.
Simply by the Mercy of God do we have any hope.
Not only so, but we have a hope that can never end.
Paul didn’t say, “…(unless your discouraged) can never perish.”
Not only so, but we have a hope that can never end.
Paul didn’t say, “…
No, we have an imperishable hope no matter the season of
life.
What does this have to do with us today?
In the midst of this season, which seams to come with an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, it’s easy for us to turn away from the Cross rather than toward it. Agreed? More often then not, you find the hurting ones look towards something other than the very One who can give them hope for hope.
Hear this, it’s only by the Cross do we have an unending, never failing, destructible, imperishable hope for eternity.
What does this have to do with us today?
In the midst of this season, which seams to come with an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, it’s easy for us to turn away from the Cross rather than toward it. Agreed? More often then not, you find the hurting ones look towards something other than the very One who can give them hope for hope.
Hear this, it’s only by the Cross do we have an unending, never failing, destructible, imperishable hope for eternity.
Even through discouraging seasons, there’s still hope.
And friends, feeling discouraged will only turn into being encouraged by Gods mercy at the Cross.
And friends, feeling discouraged will only turn into being encouraged by Gods mercy at the Cross.
We have hope.
Make this season one about finally understanding the never
fading hope made possible at the Cross.
Be encouraged by the living Gospel that has power and is
able to break through every dark place.
“In this you greatly rejoice, through now for a little while you may have to
suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” (vs. 6)
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