Christmas Hope in the Chaos
As Christmas draws near, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the chaos of the world around us. News headlines scream of uncertainty, personal challenges mount, and even our best plans seem to unravel. But Billy Graham’s timeless words from 1969 call us to something greater: “Christmas should be a time of renewed hope—not hope in a particular political concept, but Christmas hope; Christian hope; hope in Jesus Christ; hope that, despite our tangled bungling, God will bring order out of chaos.”
This hope is not theoretical or abstract. It’s the kind of hope that Joseph clung to in Genesis 50. After enduring betrayal by his brothers, unjust imprisonment, and years of separation from his family, Joseph’s story could have ended in bitterness. But instead, Joseph’s faith in God’s providence remained unshaken. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph declares to his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Joseph’s hope was rooted in the certainty that God’s purposes would prevail, even when everything around him seemed chaotic.
This is the essence of Christian hope at Christmas. Our hope isn’t tied to perfect family gatherings, world peace, or the success of our personal goals. It’s tied to a God who entered our chaos in the person of Jesus Christ. The birth of Jesus in a humble manger reminds us that God is not distant from our struggles. He steps into our mess with us. Just as Joseph’s hardships became the backdrop for God’s redemptive plan, so too does Christmas remind us that God’s plan is unfolding even when we don’t see it.
This Christmas, consider where you’ve placed your hope. Is it in politics, success, or the hope that circumstances will “work themselves out”? Or is it in Jesus—the only one who can bring true order from chaos? Joseph’s story shows us that even when life seems out of control, God’s sovereign hand is at work. Christmas proclaims that same truth. The birth of Jesus is a declaration that God’s love and power can redeem any situation.
Let this be a season of renewed hope—hope that does not disappoint because it rests on Jesus Christ. No matter how tangled life’s threads become, we can trust that God’s hands are weaving them into something beautiful.
This hope is not theoretical or abstract. It’s the kind of hope that Joseph clung to in Genesis 50. After enduring betrayal by his brothers, unjust imprisonment, and years of separation from his family, Joseph’s story could have ended in bitterness. But instead, Joseph’s faith in God’s providence remained unshaken. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph declares to his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Joseph’s hope was rooted in the certainty that God’s purposes would prevail, even when everything around him seemed chaotic.
This is the essence of Christian hope at Christmas. Our hope isn’t tied to perfect family gatherings, world peace, or the success of our personal goals. It’s tied to a God who entered our chaos in the person of Jesus Christ. The birth of Jesus in a humble manger reminds us that God is not distant from our struggles. He steps into our mess with us. Just as Joseph’s hardships became the backdrop for God’s redemptive plan, so too does Christmas remind us that God’s plan is unfolding even when we don’t see it.
This Christmas, consider where you’ve placed your hope. Is it in politics, success, or the hope that circumstances will “work themselves out”? Or is it in Jesus—the only one who can bring true order from chaos? Joseph’s story shows us that even when life seems out of control, God’s sovereign hand is at work. Christmas proclaims that same truth. The birth of Jesus is a declaration that God’s love and power can redeem any situation.
Let this be a season of renewed hope—hope that does not disappoint because it rests on Jesus Christ. No matter how tangled life’s threads become, we can trust that God’s hands are weaving them into something beautiful.
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