A Thrill of Hope: The Weary World

We feel the weariness of the world. Too many people are weary from war, death, and homelessness. Too many families are weary from grief, illness, and conflict. Too many of us are weary from lack, loneliness, and stresses that seem relentless. Weariness can lead to despair – to a hopelessness that tempts us to give up.

Despite the space that separates us, the world that Baby Jesus slipped into on that dark night in the stable had its own weariness. The people filling the land of Israel had known oppression for so many hundreds of years that they had developed systems to live within it, making it almost normal. Nearly bearable. In fact, the fatigue of waiting on God to deliver them lulled many to sleep.

Most had quit looking for the Messiah God had promised. They’d forgotten to keep their eyes on the horizon in order to search for the One in whom all nations would put their hope (Matthew 12:21; Isaiah 42:4).

Priests moved through the motions of religiosity. Prophets and kings led out of self-preservation. People lived overwhelmed by their daily burdens. Business owners, like innkeepers, juggled all the busyness. Shepherds stuck to their ancient, robot-like rhythms. 

Eerily familiar, we recognize – the first century world was weary.

So imagine the zing, the goose-bumpy thrill that flooded hearts and minds and bodies when they awoke to the reality that, at long-last, God’s promises had been fulfilled. Messiah had come! 

Then, envision those who slept through it all.

The people nearest this Holy Night each had their moments to react to the news and reality of Jesus’ birth:

• The once-mute priest and father of a long-awaited baby (known to us as John the Baptist), Zechariah joyously praised God for the greater good coming through his son and God’s. Fully grasping the breaking-in of Immanuel, he prophesied, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them” (Luke 1:68)!!

• King Herod and his fleet of priests, confronted with the truth of the Messiah’s birth, withdrew from the news with fear and anger. Despite what Scripture told them, they set out to kill this baby boy in Bethlehem in an attempt to hold onto their positions and power (Matthew 2:3,16). 

• Foreign kings from the east traveled thousands of miles, overjoyed to greet the infant King of the Jews, to bring Him gifts, and to protect Him from the murderous king – because a star had stirred something special within them (Matthew 2:1-2,9-12).

• While Mary responded to the news of her miraculous pregnancy with faith, Joseph struggled with the news and determined to divorce her (Matthew 1:19). That is, until an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream, and he chose to trust God, Mary, …and Jesus (v.20-21,24). So it was that Joseph fulfilled prophecy when he took the very pregnant Mary to Bethlehem – and helped deliver the Deliverer!

• The inferred-innkeeper of Bethlehem may seem like a bad-guy because his inn had no room, but he did give the weary parents of Messiah a spot. A shelter (Luke 2:7). Busyness became distraction for this innkeeper, but he didn’t close the door in Joseph’s face. He just missed the greatest event in history.

• Shepherds watched over their flocks on a cold night in the desert plains, tucked between Bethlehem and Jerusalem.¹ The plains became the platform for a host of angels to announce Christ’s birth (Luke 2:8-14). These burly, smelly men looked up in awe. Then, unasked by anyone, they left their flocks and hurried to see this long-awaited miracle for themselves (Luke 2:15-17). And, everyone who heard their story stood slack-jawed in awe (v.18).

Jesus’ entry into the weary world gave space for responses. Joy. Obedience. Fear. Indifference. Distraction. Exaltation.  

As we look back upon this Holy Night, the question we must ask ourselves arises – in our own weariness, what is our response to Messiah’s miraculous arrival?

Fall on Our Knees

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night, O Holy night, O night divine!

I recently heard a friend admit from his pulpit that it’s a challenge to preach the same Advent themes year after year. He stood before us to deliver yet another message about ‘hope,’ confessing the truth of the reality we all face – life will overwhelm, threaten, and distract us into missing the whole point of Christmas. If we let it.

What my friend demonstrated as he launched into a heart-felt, Spirit-inspired sermon was exactly what we all need – the recovery of a thrill of hope. But there’s no manufacturing it like we might on a roller coaster.

There’s no willing it as we would courage. Rather, it’s a holy, albeit ironic, access. The lifting of the heart toward hope comes as we stop resisting the pain, the struggle, the difficult.² And, instead, we name it, really looking at its stark darkness and our smallness in it.

It’s so counter-intuitive, I know. But in the last three years I’ve been living out the value of naming what it is I’m going through – to stop avoiding the emotions that come with suffering and weariness out of some vague fear that such feelings will suck me into oblivion. 

Because they won’t.

When we sit with Christ and speak aloud our burdens, our fears, our sins – and our hopes – we find Him lifting us up in the midst of the grief and heartache, making a way for us to move through them.² To move forward in faith, even if it’s a little bit each day.

Because our souls are worthy.³ 

It’s as we locate our actual places on the spectrum of pain that we can look upon this Holy Night and the Christchild to feel the thrill of hope rising within us.⁴ We recognize the significance of His coming – for the weary world, for our weary souls. 

And we fall on our knees.  

It’s, really, the only response to such a gift. To such a miracle. To such hope that, indeed, a new and glorious morning breaks in the distance. The Light has brought light into the dark nights of our souls. The Holy Night ushers in the dawn of a new day. With Jesus’ birth, we are given new life (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

As we each fall on our knees with the awakening that comes from such realization, may we sing from a place of renewed faith that is heavy laden with love and joy and peace, “O night divine, O night when Christ was born. O night, O Holy night, O night divine!

Such is the thrill of hope. 

As real as it is that the weary first century world encountered Messiah, so too are we met with His power and love and grace. As true as it is that the Holy Night occurred – in a stable, in Bethlehem – it’s just as true that Christ will come again. 

Much like the Israelites of old, we are handed a promise in which to hope – a solid kind of belief that this Second Coming will happen. That such a promise, such a hope of what’s to come will also sustain us in the here and now. 

Friend, whatever distracts and discourages you, whatever fails you or causes you fear, whatever hurts and hopes you hold close to your heart, know that Jesus has come! He is near. Trust that He sees you and claims the worthiness of your soul.³ Believe that all the waiting is worth it because Jesus is most worthy. May all of it afford to you that blessed thrill of hope. 

And may we, the weary world, rejoice!

Father God, You are Wonderful Counselor, guiding us – the weary and grieving and stuck – into living hope and new life. You are Mighty God, fighting for us – the prideful and unaware and hopeless – with power and promise! You are Everlasting Father, pouring into us – the wounded and lonely and regretful – a love that heals and bears all burdens. You are Prince of Peace, teaching us – the anxious and afraid and ashamed – how to receive the peace that passes all understanding so that we can move forward fearlessly.⁵ With hope! Lord Jesus, by coming to earth, You awakened all who were willing to watch your story unfold with a thrill of hope that buzzed and zinged and revived. Awaken us, Jesus! Call out to us with a bold and loving voice, “Wake up, sleeper! Rise from the dead! And Christ will shine on you!” We don’t want to miss what You are doing in our midst. We want to be like Mary who trusts with faith, like Joseph who obeys your voice, like the wisemen who follow your lead, like shepherds who seek You out and rejoice! Holy Spirit, just as creation awaits freedom from bondage and brokenness, we too wait for Christ’s second arrival, His perfecting presence in our weary world. Teach us, Spirit, how to live out of such anchored hope in our here and now. Dazzle us with the wonder of the Holy Night. And as we fall on our knees, we worship and rejoice in the reality of who our Redeemer is! We allow that thrill of hope to focus our eyes on the Promise Keeper, who is our way forward. In Jesus’ name, amen.
(Isaiah 9:6; 1 Peter 1:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Isaiah 40:29; Psalm 147:3; Hosea 14:4; 1 John 4:18; Philippians 4:7; Ephesians 5:14; Romans 8:19-21; Hebrews 6:19; John 14:6) 

Resources: I love sharing with you the books, podcasts, articles, and anything else that has inspired, encouraged, or taught me. These are humble offerings with no expectations.

• 1 – This picture of the actual Shepherd’s Field near Bethlehem was taken by Leon Mauldin. The city in the top right corner is Jerusalem. Bethlehem is positioned behind the photographer. I cannot recall where I saw this picture recently and read about the close proximity of Shepherd’s Field to both Jerusalem and Bethlehem – BUT, the original writer’s point was that literally anyone could have witnessed the host of angels hovering over this field if they’d been paying attention.
• 2 – On John Mark Comer’s ministry Instagram page, Practicing the Way, was a post on December 3rd about HOPE for Advent. I read it the day after writing this post, and it was so affirming. With words like “healing starts in our pain” and “anticipate God in the midst” of such pain…because “hopelessness beckons the Miracle,” I nearly wept with recognition of God’s nod on what He’s doing in my life and through His work in me. Here was the clincher of that Instagram post:
  “Touching our longings honestly, and allowing ourselves to feel them, is the true beginning of hope. It necessitates it. In the midst of our great need arises the first in-breaking light of incredible news. Christ is soon arriving.” 
  How encouraging is it to know that God is speaking into so many people with similar messages!?! It’s hope-giving to see Him working universally! (BTW, it’s impactful to listen to that Instagram post).
• 3 – Carissa Hardage says in her blog, “A thrill of hope comes with the knowledge that the worth of our soul outweighs the weariness of the world – that the worth of our soul brings worth to the waiting.”
• 4 – “Without weariness, there is no thrill of hope.” A 2022 Advent quote on Insta by @shannanwrites. It stopped me in my tracks last year – how fun to have saved it where I could find it for this year!
• 5 – This year’s Well Watered Women’s Advent study, The Savior’s Story, has an incredible graphic that includes the names of the promised Son of Isaiah 9:6, wrapped in questions meant to awaken us to awaken our hearts to the truth of who God is – and how to live out of that truth (p.18). 
  And, as I went poking around their Instagram account hoping to find the actual graphic, I happened upon a post one of their employees, Taylor Cage, wrote. It goes with this post so well. So well! (Alas, no pretty graphic – just my photo of the one in the book — SEE BELOW).
• Andrew Peterson has a song on our Advent playlist, A Thrill of Hope, called “Labor of Love.” Its lyrics contain the contrasts of that Holy Night just as our lives are always holding the good and bad in tension. I’m learning that it’s good to be able to find joy in the midst of grief, gratitude in the middle of lack, and hope in what would seem hopeless without Christ.
• Did you receive our first ever The Abiding Life Newsletter? If not, you can subscribe here. The December edition hit inboxes last week!! If you have any questions, email me. I’m so excited for this new way of engaging with you. XOXO
• On Wednesdays I’ve begun posting 5-7 minute teaching videos on my Facebook Author Page and Instagram (@shelleylinnjohnson).

Rhythms: As my newsletter’s title infers, we seek to develop an abiding life in this space — a place where we can get informed but also be transformed as we learn to abide in God’s presence throughout our days. I like to think that developing rhythms is what aids us in our desire to become more Christlike.

• We continue in our rhythm of stillness, setting aside time each day to be with the Lord even if it looks different each day. Lisa Harper has been known to say that abiding is not about performance but presence. And as a performance-driven kind of girl, I need that constant reminder. This abiding life is about getting in our Redeemer’s presence!
  • I continue to offer to you JD Walt’s prayer of consecration. It’s become a regular rhythm in my life:
    Jesus, I belong to You.
    I lift my heart to You.
    I set my mind on You.
    I fix my eyes on You.
    I offer my body to You as a living sacrifice.
    Jesus, we belong to You.
    We’re praying in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
• Finally, as a community, let us not neglect sharing God’s hope with others! Share your God-stories with people around you. Share this site. Share God’s Word. Shine His light of His hope into the world!

Featured Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash. “All the Bits and Pieces” photo by Yana Gorbunova on Unsplash.