Hard things just seem harder at Christmastime.

And honestly, I thought, by this point in the year I’d be able to explain what God is doing and tie everything up in a really good devotional.

But things are still hard, and no end is in sight.

And it’s Christmastime.

I’ve struggled. Have you?

It’s been one hard thing after another, months of trouble and pain. It’s felt like a pile on.

Like the disciples in the boat, I’ve been full of fear (Matt 8:23-28). I’ve cried out, “Lord, save us!” At times, it has felt like we were about to drown.

But, I know, even the “winds and seas obey Him”. (Matt 8:27)

I’ve wrote on that. I’ve taught on that when I used to be able to travel and speak at women’s events.

How I miss those precious women, from those sweet churches. ❤️

And here’s the thing, God could, at any moment, send in a legion of angels and rescue us from our problems and pain in this life. Including this pandemic. Including the division in our country.

But. He. Has. Not.
Not
Yet.

And what am I to do with THAT? What are you?

At some point, we will ALL beg God to do something and His answer will be “no” or “not yet”.

What are you going to do with THAT when you face overwhelming trouble?

Honestly, we’ve got two choices.

We can keep trusting Jesus and following Him, or we can doubt His love and goodness and take things in our own hands.

But, only one option can ever result in peace.

If you are a child of God, you know, as well as I do, which one that is.

But knowing and doing are two different things, aren’t they?

And the doing can feel impossible when we look toward the future without factoring Jesus into our scary scenarios.

But if He is with us (and He is) then He can still take hard things and bring good as we trust and follow Him one day at a time.

When I look toward the future without remembering God is there—it is truly a terrifying thing.

But God IS there,
because God WAS there. (Rev 1:8)

He was there in that manger so very long ago. (Luke 2:7)

But He was also there on that Cross. (Matt 27)

And He IS there, at this very moment at the right Hand of the Father praying for you and for me. (Rom 8:34)

And He WILL BE there in every tomorrow we will ever face. (Matt 6:34, Heb 13:5, Deut 31:6)

And when we remember He was, and is and always will be, we can face tomorrow! We can walk forward in HOPE.

Prayer—-Just this day, Lord. Help us hold tight to You. And then tomorrow, help us do the same. And day after day, You’ll carry us through. Because You came, God you are forever and always our hope. You are our hope for today and hope for eternity!

Oh friend- read those verses for yourself. God’s Word (not my words) are your HOPE. “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for WE OURSELVES HAVE HEARD HIM and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42) (emphasis mine)

What a Savior! The CHRIST of CHRISTmas! Rock-solid hope!

aweandwonder

PS – for those studying First Timothy with me, I will continue on. Right now, my heart has felt led to focus on the awe and wonder of the Christ of CHRISTmas.