“Without the grace of Jesus: a hopeless end. With the grace of Jesus: an endless hope.” (Rick Warren)
Isaiah
9:1-7, New Living Translation
Nevertheless,
that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun
and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when
Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan
and the sea, will be filled with glory. 2The people who walk in
darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
a light will shine. 3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and
its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the
harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder.
4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift
the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just
as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. 5 The boots
of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They
will be fuel for the fire. 6For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he
will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace.
7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule
with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all
eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will
make this happen.
Our hope is...
1.
That darkness is temporary (See Isaiah 9:1 above)
I’ve learned that His anger lasts for a moment, but His
loving favor lasts a lifetime. We may weep through the night, but at
daybreak it will turn into shouts of ecstatic joy. (Psalm 30:5, the
Passion Translation)
Your struggles are
fleeting as life is always changing. Your circumstances will eventually change
(for better or for worse).
2.
That there is a light in the darkness (See Isaiah 9:2
above)
As long as I am with you my life is the light that
pierces the world’s darkness. (John 9:5, the Passion Translation)
Just like Seasonal
Affective Disorder (SAD) requires a special kind of light to make an emotional
difference, so Jesus is the light that can shine into the darkness of any bad
situation to make a lasting change.
3.
That our burdens will be lifted (See Isaiah 9:4-5 above)
Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I
will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. (Matthew 11:28, the Passion
Translation)
Jesus is the hope
(and freedom) that can allow you to take off the weight of the heavy burdens
you are carrying (and enduring) in your life.
4.
That peace will reign forever (See Isaiah 9:6-7 above)
I have told you these things so that you will be whole
and at peace. In this world, you will be plagued with times of trouble,
but you need not fear; I have triumphed over this corrupt world order. (John 16:33, the
Voice)
True peace on Earth
comes from an intimate relationship with Jesus, who can provide you the hope (and
power) you need to deal with your life.
At 15 hours and 14 minutes, December 21st
will be the longest night of the year 2021. Like most dark times in life, this
night will pass into the light of the morning of December 22nd.
As Jesus works in your life to heal you
(however He needs to), your gloom turns into His glory.
“Life will always throw challenges in our way…It is up to us
whether we feel bad about our failures, or feel better about those we overcame.”
(EventGreetings.com) [i]
[i] Inspired by the sermon
“The Thrill of Hope: The Thrill of HOPE” (installment one) Sunday December 5,
2021, Pastor Dave Jansen, CenterPoint Gahanna (CPG). In-person services
are available at all three U.S. CenterPoint locations. CenterPoint also
has an online Sunday morning service (10am) that can be viewed at
centerpointchurches.online.church or centerpointchurches.com/live.
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