Fearlessly CourageousDesk of Dennis Piller12 21 2022Click for Audio
You know the story but can you tell me the message?What is the most important message of Christmas?
The world is ever-changing. Our lives are also ever in motion. Trials and circumstances are always coming anew. Relationships, family, drama, sickness, finances, and unexpected expenses. Life doesn’t let up and we seem in this endless cycle of heading into apparent danger.. In trouble, or limping our way out… again. And we get tired, and worn out, and discouragement sets in.
Then Christmas just gets added to the pile! Really?
The good news about Christmas is that even when the world or our circumstances change – the message of Christmas is timeless. Because, Christmas is about the birth of God's Son – Jesus. It is about how he came to give us love, hope, and joy. That message doesn't change from year to year.
But sometimes the familiarity of its truth fades a bit and we hit these dry patches that don’t offer much nourishment, water, and or hope. So What does Jesus say about hope?
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Is 40:31 "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:6So where are you putting your hope when your cup is half empty? Who are you confident in? Who are you trusting? Are you carrying the load alone or are you really placing your hope in Christ? One might say: Well, I am confident, in the failure that is staring me in the face! To be honest, I had a day with technology problems that ate my lunch, and my patience, and the better part of the day I couldn’t afford to lose. I was so under it, I couldn’t stop for lunch. I was in one fire after another and here I sit writing this piece to encourage you this morning while I am still picking up the pieces of my day. It actually turned out pretty good except for the carnage of my body and the annihilation of what peace I carried into my day. I should have taken a break…made a break…left for five minutes, gotten some fresh air, and laid all my frustration at the cross before coming back in for round two. But I didn’t. I just kept bucking under to the unending pressure of the day, trying to put out fires and create solutions. ME…ME…and ME
Were my problems too big for God? Was my faith too small for my day? You might have thought that if you had been inside looking out. Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” A powerful exchange is seen in this verse but I really failed in that today.
My bucket…our buckets are empty because we are the ones filling it, not God, not the Holy Spirit. We are determined that we will get through another dilemma, another patch of fog. I just keep on keeping on and I get it done. But I paid a price today for doing it alone. I lost my peace and I lost my joy because I took my eyes off the prize.So many will turn it over in worship on Sunday but will pick it back up by lunch on Monday and start over again. I hope God shows up but I must do what I do in case he doesn’t!
So who exactly is in charge of the scenarios we are describing? Hope in what? Hope in who?Why is hope important to God? What does Paul say about hope?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1)
Hope is the eyes of faith in that it not only sees the promise, but it is also the hands of faith that clings to the expectation of the promise andnever releases it no matter what is seen.
This is more than just believing things are gonna work out ok. That the higher power will take care of me or let's just stay positive. Because hope that is built on anything other than God will always disappoint.How do you build hope? Prayer is a powerful way to build our hope in God. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul counsels us to “pray without ceasing.” James illuminates this truth when he says, if anyone among us is in trouble, they should pray (James 5:13 paraphrased).May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace. -Rom. 15:13The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. -Lam. 3:21This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory. -1 Cor. 4:17
Change your focus. "We must see our circumstances through God’s love instead of, as we are prone to do, seeing God’s love through our circumstances.” – Jerry Bridges
“Being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6(NIV) We must SOAK in His Word and speak LIFE into our situations.
“Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.” – Max Lucado
Jesus went away after his hard days quite often, like I am doing now. He prayed and put things into an eternal perspective. Poured himself out to his father and laid down whatever He was carrying. Lord help us today to trust in you the Hope of Glory. You are the only way out of here Lord and I will rest my hope in you.
