the tindog coffeehouse

Hold on, hold on
Someone will find you
Hold on, hold on
Somebody loves you
Hold on, hold on
You’re not drowning this time
Hold on, hold on
Look for the search lights

– Abandon, “Hold On”

If you’ve read any of my earlier posts, you probably know this year hasn’t exactly been our best one. In fact, it’s been pretty rough. Even before I broke my leg in July, we were struggling to keep up with work and school and all the other stuff that comes along with life. Then my accident added a whole new level of stress to the situation, along with $2000 in medical bills. Add to that some additional financial setbacks, and here we are, broke and just hoping to make it through the end of the month.

All things considered, though, our situation really isn’t that bad. We have jobs, a roof over our head, food in the pantry, and presents under the Christmas tree. But it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture, to feel like things will never get any better. To lose hope.

I’m sure many Israelites in Jesus’ time had also lost hope. For thousands of years they had been promised by God that a Messiah would come, a savior that would rescue them from captivity and establish a new kingdom. Yet it had been 400 years since the last of the prophets spoke, and in that time Israel had been conquered by the Roman empire. While many still believed that a Messiah would eventually come, I’m sure it was easy to doubt as well.

But the Messiah did come. Just as God had promised. Just as the prophets had foretold. And at exactly the right time. The problem was, most Israelites missed it. Instead of a knight in shining armor riding in on a valiant steed to kick out the Romans and establish a new earthly kingdom, the Savior of mankind was born in a dirty manger surrounded by livestock.

God had answered the pleas of His chosen people, but because it wasn’t the answer they expected, they refused to accept it. And 33 years later, they would call for Jesus to be crucified.

It’s easy to lose hope in the midst of adversity. It’s easy to look at your present circumstances and feel like things will never get better. But God answers prayers, just as He did 2,000 years ago. It may not be the answer we expect. Instead of arriving on a valiant steed, it may show up on a dung-covered bed of hay. But God is faithful, and the answers are there. Just look for the search lights.

Merry Christmas!

Previously:
Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy
What, me worry?
‘My God, it’s full of stars’
Rescued
Little Babe in the straw, save us all