When I look back to my childhood I remember the excitement of the night before Christmas. We all waited in wonder. Clearly, we had hope for tomorrow. My four brothers dreamed of bicycles, bb guns, and toy trucks. I wanted stuffed animals, an Easy Bake Oven, and Barbies. Unfortunately, more times than I can count, my Barbie found herself strapped to the back of a mini bike. (It could have been any brother, but Doug was definitely a creative schemer.) For Barbie’s sake and mine, I changed what I asked for the following Christmas. But on Christmas Eve I still knew, “There was hope for tomorrow.”
The shepherds of long ago looked forward to a new day when they received an unexpected visit deep in the night. “ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:9-12, NIV)
Even in the midst of our troubles, we can stand firm in the land of hope. The God who promised the shepherds a Messiah on that long ago night, still remains faithful today. Consistently, “The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases: His compassions never end. They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant!” (Lamentations 3:22-23, NET) Moreover, we can look to the Heavens, and have hope for tomorrow.
Things to do today:
- Meditate on your favorite promise of God.
- Listen to song: Mercies (New Every Morning) Matt Redman
One of the reasons I like hiking so much is because you know as you move along a trail there’s more ahead. It makes me hope for the next bend in the trail. Recently I hiked with my niece Tasha in Phoenix, Arizona. We traversed smooth, sandy paths and sharp-edged trails. We even climbed over 4′ boulders on our way to the summit of a mountain. Sometimes a curve on the mountain trail displayed a vista view of the valley below. Other times we’d see ‘The World’s Tallest Cactus,’ (in my opinion), or the dramatic incline of the trail ahead. Continually, we relished in the anticipation of seeing something amazing.