We have a Savior who didn’t just come here to change our eternity. He came here to change our daily. He came to give us all that we need to live a life of hope and joy right here—to live each day with us.
“He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young” (Is. 40:11).
The Lord offers us strength and guidance.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Is. 41:10).
Jesus doesn’t just want to help with the transitions; He wants to give us all that we need in every moment—and all that we need is Him! Just as God delivered His people repeatedly, He has delivered us through the birth, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus! We have a blessed hope and reason for great joy!
“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth in singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands” (Is. 55:12).
Just reading those Scriptures and all the others I glanced at while looking for them has put my heart and mind in a completely different place. I feel a great hope welling up in me. A hope that even though this life is not and never will be exactly what I want it to be, God is going to make it something beautiful—even in the transitions.
Well, this post didn’t go in the direction I thought it would. I was just planning on saying that this season is a time to reflect on the hope and peace we have in Christ. And God led me in a bit of a different direction! I love when He does that.
I hope my stream-of-consciousness writing today blesses you. And I pray that we will all have the perspective of peace and joy this day and every day as we remind ourselves repeatedly of the beauty of the gospel—of the glorious intrusion of God into our world, our lives, our very selves.
Of a Savior who gladly gave up glory for grief to save his beloved children.
Oh Lord, please help us have the right perspective on this life. There is so much to be joyful about.
Father, just look at those 5 beautiful children you’ve given me! And I have a beautiful Christmas tree, a kitchen full of food, a pretty dependable car in the driveway, clothes for all my children, heat in my house, my house, toys to trip over (could stand to have a few less of those) and friends and family who love us.
Not to mention this wonderful season of hope! Thank you, Father! This is a time to remember the blessings—to not get all wiggy about the bad stuff, the difficult stuff, the challenging stuff, the disappointing stuff.
I do wiggy really well. I need to do peaceful really well.
Lord, please help us find Your peace in the craziness and challenges and disappointments. Father, you love us so much, and we know that You are going to work through all this difficult stuff, even though at times we can’t imagine how. Thank You that we can trust You. And thank You for the hope of this Christmas season. And thank You for our sweet Savior Jesus!
Sue Birdseye is an author and single mom of five kids that range from 4-years-old to 17-years-old. Her book, When Happily Ever After Shatters (Tyndale House) is in bookstores. This is adapted from her blog, uptomytoes.com.
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