Hope in the Hard
“There will be no Christmas card this year.” The decision declared wandering through a shop in October, shelves heaped with box upon box of colorful artwork, warm scenes, and warmer phrases. None of the greetings made sense sent from the center of our surreal, difficult journey these past months. Nope. Not. Doing. It. (When Covid Crashes Through Your Front Door: 1879)
Turning to bolt for the door, searching for air to breathe, my eyes fell on a card stopping me in my tracks. The words grabbing my heart. The essence of our hope always, but especially this year, embellished in print:
“I will dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER.” Psalm 23:6
Why this on a Christmas card? This scripture is not on the list of approved and loved Christmas greetings. With hands trembling and tears spilling, I picked up the box. Yes, Lord, this. Our truth to be shared this season.
“I will dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER.”
This hope shines through our soul and breaks holy glory through the cracks in our hearts. The light of our hope reflects in the glitter of the artwork beaming down on the Child. Words of hope wrapped in truth, because of this Child wrapped in swaddling clothes.
“I will dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER.”
Who dare make such a claim?
Someone with great hope.
Hope: To trust in. Wait for. Look for. Biblical hope does not just desire something good in the future, but holds a confident expectation. Certainty lies in the waiting. “Hope in God” does not mean cross your fingers. But proclaims, “Expect great things from God”.
“I will dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER.”
The person who claims this depth of hope to live in God’s presence forever has sought the Child who became the Lamb that was slain, humbled herself before Him, and invited the Christ to live on the throne of her heart.
At times, even as His children, we wrestle to maintain hope, our hands slippery in the clinging. Faith declares our salvation unshakeable and God’s promises sure. Yet, in the flesh, we grow weary in trials, while the enemy whispers doubt into our ear.
But even as we wrestle, we do so upon a solid Rock. Our struggle safe within the confines of the arms of our Father.
The Psalmist also wrestled. In Psalm 42:5 we hear him encourage himself. “Why, my soul, are you down cast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God!”
Paul encourages us to encourage each other with the knowledge of the resurrection. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) And as we do, the hope in our innermost being strengthens and overpowers the weakness and doubts of the flesh.
Tyler’s hopes are realized. Fulfilled. His faith culminated and complete in a moment. No longer does he see only a poor reflection, but face to Face. The God of his faith now experienced in person. The glory of heaven his reality.
Friend, whatever hard you face this Christmas, grab on to this incredible, hope-producing truth: someday our pain, sorrows, and hardships will cease. Our hope will be realized. Fulfilled. Our faith culminated and complete. We will see God face to Face and the glory of heaven will be our reality. And we too “will dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER.”
If you are uncertain of your destiny after you take your last breath, won’t you consider the hope found in Jesus? Crack open the greatest love story ever told, in the Word of God, and discover Him. You can ask all the hard questions. He’s up for it. But the message is very simple. “For God so loved the world (He loves you so much) that He gave His one and only Son (that baby in the manger, Jesus), that whoever believes in Him (whoever – no prerequisites) shall not perish but have eternal life (living in God’s presence forever).” (John 3:16)
[This song came to me from my daughter, from her friend, just as I was finishing this writing. God’s affirmation. Please listen: watch]
