Desperate For Hope And Needing Some Good

Over the last few years I’ve really put an emphasis on intentionally taking the time to reflect on the Christmas season, to pause and honestly acknowledge what it meant for Christ to leave Heaven and live like one of us.

It’s so easy to get pulled in a thousand different directions at this time of year, which can result in us missing out on why we’re celebrating this holiday in the first place.

As I sat down to type these words for this month, the Lord set my heart on thinking about His goodness. So I'd like us to look at four ways we see God’s unwavering goodness beautifully displayed by Him through the birth of His dear Son.

We see God’s goodness in His promises:

If you’re anything like me, when I think about the Christmas story, my thoughts jump to the gospel of Matthew or Luke since those are the passages that give us a fair description on the birth of Jesus.

But the Christmas story begins long before the road to Bethlehem that led to a tiny stable and a manger. It started hundreds of years before when God first announced the promise of this child through the prophets:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace - Isaiah 9:6 ESV

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. - Micah 5:2 ESV

The whispers of this ancient promise echoed through the ages with only a small number of people holding on and believing that what God said would one day come true.

And God kept His word.

Trusting God in our own lives during seasons of waiting can be hard, but the birth of Jesus is a reminder to each of us that God is indeed faithful to His promises even when they take time to unfold.

We see God’s goodness in the gift of Jesus:

Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s goodness and love toward humanity. We did nothing to deserve such a precious gift, and yet God looked down and His heart beat for each and every one of us.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. - John 3:16-17 ESV

Jesus, first humbled Himself by taking on the form of a helpless babe foreshadows the greatest act of humility He took by allowing Himself to be killed by the hands of men.

He chose death because He is good and His heart for us is good. Through His death He put on display that the grace of God reaches to anyone and everyone no matter how lowly or unworthy they might feel.

Our circumstances may not always be favourable, but those circumstances don’t dictate the goodness of our God. His goodness is anchored in the free gift of salvation He provided for us through the death and resurrection of His spotless Son to redeem us and call us His children.

We see His goodness in His presence:

Emmanuel means “God with us” and this is how our great God chose to come to the earth.

To dwell with us; not to lord over us.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14 ESV

He chose to walk among us, sharing in our joys, our struggles, our hardships and our laughter; He did this to show us that He is not a distant deity but One who is present and close and who genuinely cares.

As we take time to celebrate Christmas, we can be reminded that even though this season for some can be hard, tiresome and sad or for others full of joy and good tidings — Jesus is right there in the heart of it with you.

You can invite Him in through quiet times of prayer or intentional times of worship, to experience it all with you and in doing so you will be surrounded by His peace and goodness through the nearness of His presence.

We see His goodness in sharing His light:

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12 ESV

Jesus came into the world to flood the darkness with light. He did this by declaring Himself as the Light, bringing hope to a lost and broken world.

As believers we are to follow His lead and share His light with those we rub shoulders with by reaching out in love, kindness, gentleness, compassion, selflessness and service.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 5:14-16

The Christmas season is another opportunity for us to step out into a hurting world and bring healing by speaking words of encouragement to someone who is hurting, by being present with someone who just needs a friend or generously giving our time to help those in need.

God in His goodness has given us the privilege of being vessels of His goodness and spreading it all throughout the world by being the hands and feet of Jesus.

That first Christmas wasn’t one with ringing bells, the streets didn’t resound with praise and their was no grand announcement that the King had finally come.

Instead, Jesus entered this world quietly with an audience of two. Yet as Mary held the sweet precious child to her chest and Joseph wrapped them in cloth to keep them warm, they experienced God’s goodness.

They were taken care of and even though the circumstances weren’t favourable, a long awaited promise had just been fulfilled and this perfect child was the first look at the face of God.

God was good in and through it all; and He will continue to be because He is the same, yesterday today and forever.

May our eyes be opened to the great display of goodness God has graciously blessed us with and may we slow down long enough to notice His handwork through history and in the everyday ordinary moments of our lives.

Hold onto His promises, embrace the gift of Jesus and let His presence surround you — now go share it with a world desperate for hope and needing some good.

Merry Christmas and much love, your sister in Christ - Krista

If this post encouraged you, please share it with a friend 🤍

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Unshakable Rest

Renew Your Mind Bible Study

Renew Your Mind Self-Paced Bible Study is Part 1 in the Unshakable Rest Series. This study will help you understand what it means to rest in the Lord and how you can walk this out practically in your everyday life. By the end of this study I believe you will gain so much clarity and wisdom in the following areas:

+ Studying, reading, and memorizing the Bible

+ The importance of being connected with a Christian community 

+ Knowing how to take control over the thoughts that go on in your mind

+ How to confidently replace the lies you believe with truth 

+ What prayer is, how it should look and why it's so important 

+ Who God is and how this directly impacts the understanding and belief about who you are and why this matters​

+ Gain clarity on what your true identity in Christ is and how you can walk in it

+ Grow deeper in your prayer life

Learn More

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