[a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices]

Christmas seems almost . .  magical . . this year. Magical isn't the word, but I don't know what is. Technically, it's my 26th Christmas. I don't remember the first few, but I do have many fond memories and lists of little things I love that are unique to this season.

All that isn't what makes this year ... different, special, truly the most wonderful time of the year, though.

It's the fact that people seem less selfish and self-consumed. It's taking a break from work and school to make time for people. It's the joy and fun of giving. It's when the things/people of life that should matter most actually do. 

And it's lines like this from O Holy Night - "A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn." 

Weary. Isn't that a great word to describe our world today? I'm tired. Everyone's tired. When's the last time someone told you they were well-rested? Seriously. It sounds hilarious to even hear it in my head let alone from someone's mouth. 

"A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices." Those words were written to speak of the night Jesus was born, a time when the world was hungry for hope. 

But truthfully, not much has changed. We're still starving for it today. 

Starving to remember, to believe, to trust and to persevere. Starving to look beyond circumstances of situations, struggles, war, tragedy, poverty and pain to believe it's still a beautiful world. Starving to defeat Satan's lies, so that, no matter what life brings, our hope is anchored in God who loves us beyond circumstances of this life and is not deaf to our troubles or prayers.

The more I get to know people from around the world, the more I realize how much we, how much I, need the gospel, the good news, hope every day. 

And it doesn't matter what our battle is. 

It doesn't matter if it's illness, grief, finances, parenting, marriage, depression, abuse, exhaustion, complacency, anger, pride, selfishness, poverty, fear, fighting or loneliness. We need a God who is greater, stronger, wiser and more powerful to look to and to trust in, and that's what Christmas is about. The gift of the Savior who not once let us down, not once loved us less and not once avoided God's will to die on a cross and conquer sin, death and the devil for us. A Savior who gives us greater citizenship in heaven, beyond the world's broken systems.

This is our hope, world! This is our Christ, our Messiah, our Savior. This is the time to rejoice. Joy to the whole wide, often weary, world, the Lord has come. 

And with Him, He brings beautiful, beautiful hope.