Psalm 16:5:
“You, LORD, are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands.”
Romans 8:28:
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
The current events in our nation, along with disturbing images and memories of what has transpired in our country and the world over the last three years, have altered how we think about life and the days ahead. Many continue to deal with fear and uncertainty for what the future holds. We still have a host of questions: will Covid ever become eradicated; will our schools and children every recover from the setbacks of virtual learning; will our economy rebound; will our leaders solve the immigration problems, illegal drug use, or violence in our cities and towns? If you think this is a chaotic time now and you are stressed over the heightened emotions in Washington, in our cities across America, and in our neighborhoods and churches, we should be praying even harder for our future. Many of us have undoubtedly wrestled with a mix of emotions— dashed hopes and heightened fears. Others wrestle with fear for their eternal life with a sense that there is no hope for them.
We have just celebrated the most joyous season of the year, the message of which we mustn’t dismiss so quickly. One of the profound truths of Christmas is written in the hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”:
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in Thee tonight.
The words we sang just days ago speak of a darkness that existed in the world. Until Jesus came. It is suggested by writers of old that when Jesus was born a hush fell over the earth; stars were silent; mortals slept dreamless sleep. The dark streets of Bethlehem were lit by one single light source—the Light everlasting. And then we sang the verse that really brings it all home, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.” The hopes and fears that had been carried and accumulated century upon century, generation after generation, by all people of this earth, were finally realized and met in a baby, born in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ. This baby, born of a virgin, is Emmanuel, God with us, Who came to meet us right here where we live, to meet our need for hope of eternal life and freedom from fear. We no longer have need of fear or to be shackled by it. We no longer have to worry about our future and eternal life for we have hope in Jesus.
So soon after Christmas do we still need reminding?
Thank you, Lord, for Your timeless message of hope that we need right now. Release us from the fears that we are holding onto needlessly. Grant us Your peace and grace to move ahead in the future, whatever it holds, for it is all in Your hands. In the name of the One who is Emmanuel, God with us, our Hope, Jesus. Amen.
