Good News in the Midst of a Broken World

​As Christmas nears, some are in the midst of pain and brokenness. This season is marred by the loss of a parent, a child, a friend, or another dear person. Some may have been in the path of the storms which came with floods, fire, and wind. Others received that diagnosis, those divorce papers, lost a job. Addictions, betrayals, and pain may have shredded your peace, damaged your hope.

How do we go from brokenness to praise in this holiday season?
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Over the past year, I have wrestled with learning to give God praise and glory, not because of my circumstances or my perceived blessings, but because He is God and He is good—because He is my Father in heaven who will hold my hand during the pain, who will comfort me during loss, who will give me peace despite the storm.

Faith is not at its strongest when all is well in my life, but faith kicks in when it seems all is lost, yet somehow, He still offers hope.

I have to catch hold of that hope and hang on with a white-knuckled grasp. I must believe that He catches my tears and that He is enough to get me through whatever season I’m in.

As we celebrate a baby born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes, let us remember that the baby became a man who carried a heavy cross on a back that was torn for us. He was tempted in every way, a man who knew sorrows, but for the joy set before Him endured the cross and shame. Because of His great love for us, He looked past the temporary brokenness to the eternal, and He has defeated death! He is preparing a place for us!

This is Good News!

Hebrews 13:15 says …let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God…

So while my circumstances rise and fall from mountaintop to valley here in this present age, I so desire a faith that clings to Hope and the Good News in the midst of my brokenness.

My prayer is that you will find that Joy and Hope this season!
Merry Christmas-
Janet W. Ferguson