Why There Is Hope When You're Not Feeling Too 'Merry or Bright'

Christmas is time when it feels like the whole world is full of joy. People seem a little bit more cheerful. Your neighborhood is filled with colorful, twinkly lights. People become more unified and choose set their differences aside. Everyone feels a little bit more in love with life and it seems like their heart is bursting with joy.
  But for you those feelings may not be there this Holiday season. Maybe there's an empty seat around your dinner table this year. Maybe everywhere you look in your life lately all you see is hard things and change. Maybe you are happy with your life but as you have gotten older, you have become more aware of the fact that the holidays are not a happy time for everyone so you feel happy and thankful but yet your heart still feels heavy.
 It's tempting to call yourself a "Scrooge" and  worry that you're not enjoying this season the way you are supposed to. I think that in the moments this season when we do feel a little more weary, have trouble being grateful for circumstances and feel a bit more pain, we have an opportunity to appreciate what Christmas is about. When we are hurting or become so deeply aware of the need in this world for healing and redemption, we can be reminded of the hope that was given to us. The hope that is found in Jesus Christ, the Savior sent to save the entire world. We can find hope in knowing that these days will come to an end and that one day there will be no more pain or suffering (Revelation 21:1-4) And that, I believe is a beautiful thing and a thing worth thinking on today. So maybe in the times when we are more frustrated or discouraged with the world and life here, we are able to appreciate more the life that is offered in Jesus and can rejoice in the hope that we have in him.

I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year!
-Amy

"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David"-Luke 1:68-69