THE SETUP
As the animated Christmas movie, Polar Express is beginning, the narrator says, “I was listening for a sound I was afraid I’d never hear. The ringing bells of Santa’s sleigh.” The movie tells the story of a boy from a poor family who thought Christmas would pass him by as it had in years past. Instead, he is magically whisked away on the Polar Express. He gets to see and experience what he had always hoped was true, but because of years of disappointment, he had stopped hoping.
In the movie, getting the boy to believe in Santa and the spirit of Christmas wasn’t the challenge. Getting him to believe it was for him was. Finally, he speaks those two words: “I believe.” His hopes and dreams were fulfilled.
For many people, disappointments keep them from hoping for the future. Maybe you’ve heard someone say, “I don’t want to get my hopes up.” Maybe you’ve said it. We’ve all been let down. We’ve all put our hope in someone or something that has come up short.
The Advent season is all about hope. Advent means “coming” in Latin and it is the anticipation of the birth of Jesus, the birth of hope. If you have grown hopeless, or if you just hope less, may this Christmas season renew your faith as you remember that God keeps his promises.
PASSAGE TO READ
Proverbs 13:12, Psalm 146:3-6
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Is there a hope you have that has been deferred? How have you handled the waiting?i
When is the last time you had a “tree of life” experience – a dream fulfilled?
The psalmist writes, “He (God) keeps every promise forever.” How does that fill you with hope this Christmas?
PRAYER IDEA
“Lord, I thank you that you keep EVERY promise FOREVER. Even when I don’t see your hand at work, I believe that you are keeping your promises in my life. During this Advent season I want to keep my heart focused on the hope and promise of Jesus. Christmas is a reminder that you do keep your promises and that you will keep your promises in my life. Amen.”