Thursday, December 25, 2014

the weary world rejoices {hope is alive}

Well, it's Christmas. Technically it's 2am on Christmas as I write this, so I should be sleeping, but oh well. (and no, I'm not up tracking Santa on NORAD, though it might be a good distraction tool from writing this....) 

Did anyone else try really hard to get into the Christmas spirit this year only to just not make it there? I tried. I tried really hard. I LOVE me some Christmas.  but there hasn't been anything getting me into Christmas this year. Christmas music is usually my jam, but I've barely been able to listen to it; I love decorating, but we barely did anything decor-wise (minus our tree, which Mom and I spent so much time arguing about getting one, I didn't care how it looked by the time we got it). We did plenty of Christmas baking, but instead of enjoying it, it felt tedious and nerve wracking; Christmas shopping was rushed, 2 days before Christmas (but I shopped with a friend, and spent over an hour in BAM so it was worth the wait). 

Add to that a newly-diagnosed respiratory infection (my lungs HATE me), on top of a sore/achy body from ridiculous amounts of furniture moving (new house probs), and my insomnia keeping me up half the night; I've just physically been miserable and exhausted every day since I got home from school. Talk about a winter break. Thanks, immune system! 

I'm thankful for the Christmas season and all it stands for, but this year, I'm just not feeling it. I just can't right now. 


Thank goodness the darkness only lasts for the night. And thank goodness when Jesus was born in a manger all those many years ago, He was born to save wretches like me. Even in the midst of my mess, when I'm at my darkest or in the lowest of lows. Before He died for me, He lived for me. He was born for me.

Sammy Rhodes wrote this earlier today: "Unto us a child is born. The good news of the gospel is the “us” includes messes like us."


He came into a broken, exhausted world to bring us back to Himself; a world so far separated from their maker that He had to become flesh to reconcile us to the kingdom.
 He didn't just come here as a grown man to fix everything, either; he started out his life as a helpless babe in a manger, and lived wholly as we do, being tried and tested along the way. 
And when He came, everything changed.

His name will be the hope of the world. ~Matthew 12:21 

A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices. (O Holy Night)

Finally, there's hope. 
My world, my heart, is so weary--finally, something to relieve the weariness and stress. I need this hope right now. I want to not be weary for just a minute.  I need something to rejoice about. 
And now, He's here. No more searching or striving or doing to be 'right' with God; I can rejoice in the fact that Jesus is here, He is born, and He is alive-- and is the living hope I need to get me through. Because He was born, because He lives, so can I- and I can live  fully.


picture courtesy of @madewonderfully's instagram

Jonathan Merritt wrote this today:
"Christmas reminds us that miracles often happen on the dark nights when we have little more than a twinkle star to hold onto."

On this dark night, in a manger, with no room in the Inn; born to two bewildered parents who did NOT expect this wrench in their life plans; and yet, in spite of the circumstances, a miracle happened in that manger: a hope for the future, a hope for the whole world, was born. A living hope. 

Despite the darkness, hope is alive. Finally, there's something worth rejoicing about. Finally, my weary heart can rejoice: 
Hope is here! hope is alive! Jesus is born, and He is here to do amazing, beautiful things! 

He's the hope the weary world needs. He's the hope my weary self needs.

And He is, finally, here, in the flesh, to live out what love and hope really look like. 

Even in the midst of my darkness, that is worth rejoicing. 

Thank the Lord for hope. For Jesus, our living, breathing, hope, born into the world to fix the brokenness and bring light to our darkness. 

Hope is Alive by Ellie Holcomb
(typically I'd post a video with the song, but I sadly couldn't find one! Check it out on itunes, it's a beautiful song!)

After the silence of waiting so long

We hear a baby’s first cry

And into our midnight

A heavenly song

Whispers that hope is alive

Oh joy to the world on this holy night

CHORUS

So sing with the angels that fill up the sky

Heaven broke through and now hope is alive

He is right here among us

Our god is with us tonight

And hope is alive
--
In an old stable beneath the bright stars

A young mother is holding her son

Oh the beauty of feeling the beat of God’s heart

That tells us that we are not alone

Oh, our Emanuel has come
--
So sing with the angels that fill up the sky

Heaven broke through and now hope is alive

He is right here among us

Our god is with us tonight

And hope is alive
--
Into our aching , into our breaking

Into our longing to be made whole

Your arms are reaching, Your love is holding us close

Into our suffering , into our weeping

Into this need we have to be known

Your arms are reaching, Your love is holding us close

--
So sing with the angels that fill up the sky

Heaven broke through and now hope is alive

He is right here among us

Our god is with us tonight

And hope is alive
--
So sing with the Angels that filled up the sky

Those in the shadows have seen a great light

He is right here among us

Our god is with us tonight

And hope is alive


Hope is alive on this Christmas-- and the weary world rejoices! Alleluia! 

Merry Christmas! :)

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