Does the Father Hear us this Christmas?
Does the Father hear us this Christmas? Are you wondering where is Jesus during everything?
When a little child says to their dad at night, “I’m scared daddy, can you turn on the light?” What is the dad’s response? How does a dad respond to their child who are in the grips of fear? Does the loving dad scream, “NO, you can handle it!” then slam the door shut and ignore their child? Does a dad tell them to find someone else to comfort them or find someone else to complain to? No, that is not what a loving dad does. Likewise, our Lord is not silent. The Lord says, He will comfort his people, see Isaiah 40:1-6 and that the land walking in darkness has seen a great light. The world needs, perhaps now more than any time one can remember, this message of hope. Well, truth be told this message of hope is always needed, but many may feel more desperate for true hope now more than at any other time in recent years. This message of light and life that is only found in Jesus Christ. God is not unaware of your suffering, your pain, your hardship this year as His son Jesus came into the world to save that which was lost, to bring renewal, to bring refreshment, to bring joy, to bring His life to people that were downtrodden and weary.
Psalm 36:9 says, “For with you is the fountain of life in your light we see light” When a child says daddy, I’m scared can I turn on the light? One’s first reaction should be to bring comfort, to say, “It’s OK, you are safe, things are going to be OK.” Maybe a loving dad turns on the hallway light for their child or stays with them a little while in their bed or prays with them. God wants to do the same thing with you as we walk through different fears that try to take root in our life through events of the last year. It will be OK, and the believer can not only persevere, but thrive through the strength and grace that the Holy Spirit gives us. Jesus says that He will never leave us or forsake us. John 1:4-5 says, “In him was life and that life was the light of all mankind the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it” and John 8:12 says, “I am the light of the world whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life”. Likewise, in Isaiah 9:2 it says, “the people walking in darkness have seen a great light and those living in the land of deep darkness that a light has dawned.”
Not only does the Bible say that the darkness has not overcome the believer but do you know what your name and my name is in Revelation 2 and 3? We are called overcomers repeatedly, over and over there are promises to those who overcome. The believer in Jesus will overcome the challenges of today and that ability to overcome and strength that is not of our own and grace that enables us to do things beyond our ability will help us to share with friends, neighbors, strangers and even enemies. So, in a land hurting and in deep sadness Jesus speaks and says, “Come here child, I will comfort you, I will walk with you, I will give you love I will give you strength, I am turning on the lights to shine forth in the darkness. When it’s time to cry out to your heavenly Daddy and say I am scared, I am afraid, He speaks into each dark and lonely place that He is present and that is more than enough.
Merry Christmas! May the true warmth and life that Jesus brings light up your Christmas season and spur you forward into 2021. Every trial can be passed with Jesus help, you can overcome whatever stands in the way of God being glorified in your life and expect and hope for greater things. While there are dark days, do not forget that His light will shine forth and a city on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14
A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 40:3-5
