The Hope for Christmas

When we hear the words promise, or I promise, we often experience a fair amount of skepticism. How much depends on how often we have seen promises go unfulfilled or been disappointed. In the classic Christmas movie “Jingle All The Way”, the character played by Arnold Schwarzenegger is always making promises to his son and not keeping them. His son predictably goes from anger at the failed promises to disbelief in future promises. There is a two-fold lesson there for us: the need to keep our promises and not to lose hope. What should have been simple for Arnold’s son, trusting what Dad says, became complicated and confounded. We also tend to make hope complicated based on our past experiences.

The power behind the word ‘hope’ has to be grounded in a clear understanding of its meaning. A dictionary search provides the following: Hope is: (1) a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen, (2) an aspect of trust or faith. There is potential danger in the definition of hope. The first way it’s defined leaves us susceptible to disappointment. An expectation or desire for a certain thing to happen: I hope my team wins the game, but that is just that; there is no assurance of the desired outcome, and so that kind of hope is hollow, more like wishful thinking. Politicians promise us hope for a better future, and fail to deliver. Family, friends, and employers may make all manner of promises and not come through.

The second definition of hope provides a better foundation for its power, provided the source of hope is grounded in someone or something absolutely trustworthy. Again, our challenge is to have an unshakable source of hope. The true power of hope is found only by reliance, dependence, and trust in God and God’s promises. There are several words in the Bible that translate to our word hope. Collectively, they convey the ideas of expectancy, confidence, trust while awaiting the desired outcome. How does the power of Biblical hope impact our lives? It’s inherent in the biblical story of the birth of Jesus. And, somewhat like Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, Biblical Hope impacts our past, present, and future. 

Hope for the Past

All of us have wounded or been wounded, sinned against others or been sinned against by others. These wounds of the past can run deep and continue to haunt our present if we don’t face them and find a way to be free of them. Whether we are the offender or the victim, sin produces fear, guilt, and shame in abundant quantities, which in turn lead to anxiety and depression. And just a reminder, the Bible is very clear that no one is innocent. Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Humanly speaking, what can we do about sin, guilt, shame, and all the other negative emotions that come from sin? Addiction in all its insidious forms points to mankind’s desire to be free of these wounds. Therapy can help to a degree, but often even years of therapy can only take people so far. This is where Biblical Hope must be embraced. In Matthew 1:21, Joseph is given this promise about the child Mary is carrying: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

In their research article Forgiveness: A Key Component of Healing From Moral Injury?, Brémault-Phillips et al. (2022) conclude that “it is crucial to consider integrating forgiveness practices into clinical practice. Recovery from [moral injury] may require a novel and intentional interdisciplinary discourse between spiritual leaders and mental health professionals” (Abstract, para. 1). 

Psychology is increasingly affirming what the Gospel of Jesus Christ has proclaimed for millennia: that human beings need forgiveness—deep, transforming forgiveness that only Christ can give. As Scripture declares, “For God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:13–14). Lewis Smedes once wrote, “Forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future.” The hope of Christmas makes it possible to face our past with courage and grace. But what about the present? What hope does the birth of Jesus bring to a world increasingly marked by chaos and discord?

Hope for the Present

Early in His earthly ministry, Jesus began to speak about a familiar concept in a profoundly new way. In John 3:16, He said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” That phrase, eternal or everlasting life, meant far more than an unlimited quantity of life. In the original language, the words zoe aionios literally refer to “the life of the age to come”: resurrection life, the very life of God that resides in Jesus, the eternal Word, and is given by Him to all who believe. It is a quality of life as well as a quantity. As 1 John 5:11–12 affirms, “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” This present quality of life is marked by many blessings. Here are just a few:

• Forgiveness for sin, past, present, and future, leading to an end of feelings of guilt and condemnation: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). 

• Peace: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Jesus assured His followers, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27). And again, we are reminded, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Finally, Scripture promises, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7).

• We are given the assurance of God’s ongoing presence: “Surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

• God assures us of His provision for our daily needs: “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:31–33).

Hope for the Future

Our past is covered and our present provided for—but what about the future? The greatest foe humanity faces is death. It is the one universal constant every person will encounter. Yet biblical hope assures us of this: “Because I live you also will live” (John 14:19). Scripture further proclaims that death will not hold us (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18) and that death itself has been defeated (1 Corinthians 15:51–58). 

Biblical hope promises us a place in eternity with Him. In John 14:1–3, Jesus assures us that He is preparing a place for us. This hope gives us a true sense of belonging, of genuine fellowship and family. As Romans 8:16–17 declares, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” Our past is covered, our present provided for, and our future assured. This is the true hope of Christmas.

Become a Source of Hope for Others

In light of the glorious hope the birth of Jesus inaugurated, how can we be a source of hope to others? First, share this message of hope that encompasses the past, present, and future. Next, Jesus made it a point to be present with those who had lost hope: lepers, the chronically ill, the demon-possessed, and the poor. Where and how can you be present with those who struggle with hopelessness? Start with the homeless and homeless shelters. Make it a point to visit those in nursing homes and prisons. Consider giving to the Foundation for Christian Counseling, whose mission is to Transform Communities One Family (even one person) at a time as they work to bring hope to the least, the last, and the lost.