Hope and Grace in Every Season: Part 2

I pray that we may not neglect the weight of the truth of the birth of our Lord and Savior, who left all majesty to be born in a manger. In Christ, we see God denying Himself all lavishness to lavish Himself on us. He is self-giving, other-serving, sacrificial love. And also be reminded that while darkness surrounds us and troubles exist, Jesus is here, a light shining in a dark place. Because of Jesus, we aren't alone; we are loved completely and we can experience peace.

Hope gives us meaning and purpose.

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Jesus understands you and He knows what you’re going through. Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us therefore, He knows us and He understands what we’re going through.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

He knows how to speak to us because He’s not just someone who has “pretty good advice”. On the contrary, He is the MOST WONDERFUL COUNSELOR who gives the most wisdom and truth and hope to anything we are going through.

As we step into our Cambridge exams, remember that Jesus isn’t only your Messiah. He is Emmanuel who knows you and is with you in whatever you’re going through.

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“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23 KJV)

He is Emmanuel—God with us.
He is the God who is always with us, along the way, by our side, and He never leaves us nor forsakes us. When He says you’re going somewhere, He is going to walk you there. He isn’t just the God who is omnipresent, who is an ever present help in troubles, but He is a God who chooses to allow us to take part in His story.

Though He is all sovereign, all sufficient, almighty—without lack and needing nothing else to complete what He wants to be done—He chooses to involve us to take part in it. And that, to me, is the greatest story ever told—not merely a story but a love story. This is the story of how God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, called Emmanuel, through an ordinary girl whom He chose to fulfill a specific role, similar to the way He has chosen you to play your roles in this beautiful love story.

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Mary’s pregnancy was full of waiting and pain, but in the end, she delivered the greatest gift to the world. Don’t let your season of pain keep you from experiencing the power and the presence of “God With Us”. Often the greatest gifts are birthed from the deepest places of pain. The beautiful thing about Jesus is that whether we remain faithful in our waiting or not, He still comes through.

His Faithfulness has never been dependent on us. His grace is not dependent on our works.

After 400 years of what seemed to be God’s silence and absence, He showed grace in the most unexpected way – through an unlikely, young, poor and blessed Mary – and gifted us the HOPE of the world. God will show up in ways we don’t understand, but always does.

Don’t lose faith.

The truth is, we’re all hurting one way or another, and we need to remember the love, hope and light of Jesus. Everyday, every hour, every minute, every second, He sees. He knows. He understands. And He patiently answers. He keeps you safe. He keeps you sound. He keeps you within His embrace. He keeps you guarded and in His arms. He keeps you well. He keeps you still. He keeps you; at all times, He keeps you.

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In this uncertain world, that is one thing we can be certain of–that our God, our Saviour, our Maker, keeps us.

May the Lord keep you and bless you and give you peace. This exam season, take a deep breath and remember that although our outer circumstances may be tumultuous, Christ’s peace in us overwhelms it all. His light shines brightly, even in the darkest of circumstances. May this Christmas season only bring us to ponder upon this Truth of the Gospel — may we treasure this Word, who is Christ, deep in the bosom of our hearts. For unto us this Savior had been born. And so unto Him shall we live.