Finding hope in despair.

Since I started blogging in February I have not had any trouble coming up with ideas for posts. I seem to have more to write than time!

But, for some reason, I have been struggling with what I would like to write about this Christmas.  I did not want to write anything trivial or cliché like ‘Jesus is the reason for the season’ (even though that is the truth). I was hoping to come up with something clever, poignant, and maybe even earth shattering.  Only I just could not figure it out.

And then I met someone who impacted me greatly. Up until the age of 48 he was convinced he was going to hell.  He had some sins in his past that nothing would take away.  They were done.  Over.  Finished.   He could not do enough Hail Mary’s to receive penance.  There was no forgiveness for him.  It was hopeless. And he felt hopeless and despair. And then….

He went away on a weekend guys retreat…and came home a different man.  Because, during that retreat his despair turned to hope. He learned something that would change the trajectory of his life forever.

He found out about the power of Jesus' love. He found out that…

Jesus Saves

The one who loves and forgives no matter what you have done in your past, present AND future.

The Jesus who was born on Christmas day.  The Jesus who came to give you hope.

Jesus came to earth to serve.  To serve you.  To serve me.  To serve ALL. He did NOT come to condemn, point fingers, or judge.

He came to earth to save.  To save you from what?  Well, I like to think he came to save me from myself.  Why? Because I am a sinner through and through. I get angry, impatient, frustrated, and irritated.  I am not always a nice person.  Are you?

Jesus came to give us life.  A bright life.  A fulfilled life.  A life with hope.  A life with a future.  A life without all the burdens.  A life without all the self-condemnation. Not just a life lived…but a life lived well.

Hope in times of despair

Have you ever…

• Felt like you were on the bottom and that no matter how hard you tried to crawl upward nothing happened?
• Tried to make changes, personal changes, and you kept messing up, and then felt like a failure…again?
• Witnessed a family member, or a friend, make decisions that YOU know will result in disaster, but they continue on the collision path anyway?
• Felt as if nothing matters anymore.  Your past has determined your future…which now looks hopeless….so you think ‘What is the point anyway?’

That feeling of hopelessness is overwhelming. It can turn into despair. It is all consuming.  It is terrifying.  It is scary.  It is threatening.

Does any of the above resonate with you? 

Would you like to live in the power of Jesus' love?

Would you like to find hope? Would you like to find hope in times of despair? The ‘silver lining in the cloud? Wouldn’t you like to –

• live a life free from condemnation?
• live a life free from shame?
• live a life free from guilt?
• live a life free from despair?

Wouldn’t you like to live a victorious life?

I urge you, this Christmas season, to find out what Jesus really has to say. Reading ‘Is the message of Christmas good news?’ might help. Jesus was born so that he could die. So that you can live that victorious life. The life that you always dreamed of but could never achieve on your own.

‘But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.’ Luke 2:10-11.

Merry Merry Christmas to you and your family, And, Happy Birthday Jesus.