I’m currently doing a book study with a group of girls from church called “Advent: The Weary World Rejoices” by Lifeway Women which can be ordered HERE. I was drawn in rather quickly by this book simply by the title which is, of course, a line from the well-known Christmas carol “O Holy Night.”
A thrill of hope
The weary world rejoices
Do you identify with that second line? I know I certainly do, especially at the current time we’re living in. During this year, I’ve seen more division than I’ve ever seen in my 44 years of life. The Covid-19 pandemic alone has divided people on many levels. Masks vs. No masks. To quarantine or not to quarantine? Vaccine or no vaccine? Shut down businesses to protect people or let the virus run its course?
And then there’s the loneliness that is being experienced by nearly everyone. Elderly people in nursing homes are unable to see their families, people who are housebound due to age or a disability are further isolated in order to protect them, and the immunocompromised have to be selective about with whom they have direct contact.
Some families have chosen not to get together to celebrate birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays in order to slow the spread of the disease. Children are confined to their homes the majority of the time and if they live in an area where they are allowed to attend school they are kept 6 feet away from their teachers and peers. As I wrote in THIS post back when the pandemic first started, we were not created to be socially distant.
And how about the racial division? I’m ready for the dissension to be behind us. I hate to see people full of so much hatred and hurt lashing out at each other. I long for peace on earth, but in my opinion I don’t think that is realistically attainable on this side of heaven.
We’re weary, but yet we can rejoice. Think of all of the years of waiting for the birth of Jesus. Imagine not hearing from God for 400 years. What FAITH it must have taken to trust that even though He was silent, the long awaited King would one day arrive. Thankfully, He did indeed arrive and now here we are over 2,000 years past that sacred night awaiting His return. We’re worn down by life as we know it and long for our heavenly home. This is where our hope must lie. The fact that this world will soon be behind us is the reason that we can rejoice.
For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn
As I was praying about this post, this next line popped in my head. We can have confidence in knowing that no matter how hard this life gets, a new and glorious morn is in the distance. We are to press forward toward the goal as Paul instructs us to do in Philippians 3. If you are a Christ follower as I am, then you are just passing through. Our 70-80 years here on earth are miniscule compared to eternity in the glorious home that we are headed towards.
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. ~ Philippians 3:20-21
Our perspective should be an eternal one. This world will pass away! Our lives are but a mist (James 4:14). I have never longed for heaven more than I do right now. I have never identified more with what Paul said in Philippians 1:21-23:
For to me, living means opportunities for Christ, and dying—well, that’s better yet! But if living will give me more opportunities to win people to Christ, then I really don’t know which is better, to live or die! Sometimes I want to live, and at other times I don’t, for I long to go and be with Christ. How much happier for me than being here!
Oh how I feel this deep in my soul! I can often feel an ache within as I yearn to be in my heavenly home where I will spend an eternity with my creator and lover of my soul. But, for now, I am here which gives me more time to share Christ with those around me. This brings me to one of my life verses.
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. ~ Acts 20:24
As Christ-followers, we have the hope that so many are longing for. Our lives are pointless if we don’t share it with others. We don’t have the time to wait. Now is the time to share with them that a new and glorious morn is coming! We are holding this gift in our hearts and we must share it.
It’s easy to see that there are so many who are looking for hope and security in the wrong ways. For some, it’s a vaccine. For others, it’s national and state leaders. And this list goes on indefinitely: money, job security, prestige, fame, house, spouse, pastor, government…there are countless ways that people try to fill themselves. But, these things only bring temporary pleasure.
And let me add a little disclaimer here. I am no better. I certainly get swept up in the cares of the world and forget where my focus should be. I get tired and overwhelmed and instead of looking to Jesus for answers, I try to do things myself. I make things of this world my idol, often thinking these may fill me. But, they don’t! That’s when he brings me gently back in and reminds me that He is all I need. If I have the answer to the unsettledness that I at times feel, why wouldn’t I share it with others?
Things are a bit tricky and it’s hard to reach out to people with the current pandemic, so you may have to get creative. There are some who wouldn’t feel comfortable being over for dinner, but maybe you could drop off a plate of cookies. Or who doesn’t love getting a card or letter in the mail? A face to face conversation may not be possible, but a phone call would work, too. Strive to build relationships so that you can share the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) that so many people are longing for.
No matter how worn out you are, don’t lose heart. Our eternal reward is on the horizon. The greatest way to find complete peace is to focus first on Jesus, and then on others. He tells us to first love Him with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength and then to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). Let’s get our eyes off of our own weariness and focus on serving others so that they can experience the promise that we have of a new and glorious morn. Let’s rejoice even in our lassitude as we pass the reason for our thrill of hope to those around us. And whatever you do, DON’T WAIT!!!
Recent Comments