Finding Real Hope in an Imperfect Christmas

Even in life's mess and disappointment, Advent teaches us to hope again — not in what we can control, but in the God who has already come to save us.

(Photo: Lightstock)

Isn’t it interesting that every year, the weeks between November 28th and December 26th look completely different from the rest of the year? The Christmas season, religious or not, transforms everything: the décor in our homes, the parties on our calendars, the outfits we wear and the media we consume.

On one hand, it’s glorious. The change of scenery is refreshing at the end of an often long and grueling year.

But if you’ve ever caught yourself feeling somewhat disillusioned by it all, you are not alone. I often find myself spinning as I try to live in the tension between entering the season of Advent and celebrating the American version of Christmas. I struggle as I compare my chaotic life to images of marriages, families and lifestyles that remind me that if I were only better, tried harder or bought the right stuff, my life could finally be perfect.

Holiday cheer often magnifies the fact that most of us are living through the fallout of broken relationships, tragedies, dwindling bank accounts, insecurities, loneliness and maybe the fact that, try as we might, we just aren’t that good at hosting.

Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, and it is. But it can also feel messy, leaving us disappointed and tired by December 26th.

But, while our American culture chases an illusion of perfection that resembles a Gap commercial, the Church wants to give us more. The season of Advent does not demand that we reject our cultural traditions, but rather that we go beyond them to behold the real source of joy and happiness that illuminates Christmas.

During these four weeks, God invites us to hold nothing back. He wants us to bring everything to him, our sadness and joy, the good and the bad. And if we are willing to do that, he will give us a living, transformative hope that has the power to reframe how we see our lives in light of the miracle of Christmas.

Hope, the gift of God by which we long for him and his perfection, is written on the human heart. God created us to find the fulfillment of our desires in him, but, in our sin, we’d rather not. We place our hope in lesser things like money, status, stuff, romance or security, expecting them to gratify our desires. They never do. Instead, they fail to deliver on their promises, leaving us broken and hopeless in the end.

This pattern of misplaced hope isn’t new; it’s the same story humanity has been living since the beginning. Even God’s chosen people, the Israelites, throughout the Scriptures, could not escape the temptation to place their hope in earthly things.

They repeatedly chose to ignore God. They refused to obey him, placing their hope in creation and worshipping and serving foreign gods. The result was anything but happiness and fulfillment. Eventually, their rebellion caught up with them, and Israel hit rock bottom. Their kingdom was split in two as they suffered from moral decay, tyrannical rulers and political instability.

Yet, amid the destructive mess of sin, the prophet Isaiah wrote these words:

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest … For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” Isaiah 9:1-3, 6-7

Can you imagine being an Israelite and hearing such a message? Picture the hope that must have blossomed in the hearts of the hopeless. They knew their circumstances were disastrous. They had no idea how to fix things, and yet, in the midst of seemingly impenetrable darkness, God promised to shine his light. He reminded them that even when things aren’t good, he is. Their hope was safe in him. They might have to wait, but he would deliver, and eventually he did.

On a silent night in Bethlehem, a virgin, full of grace, gave birth to the child who fulfilled every single prophecy about the coming Messiah. Through his Son, Jesus Christ, God made good on his promises of old. He redeemed his chosen people and brought salvation to the entire world. God has proven repeatedly that he can be trusted. If we are willing to place our hope in him, we might have to wait, but we will never be disappointed.

And so, this year, let the season of Advent fill you with renewed hope and gladness as you wait on the Lord. We serve a God who loved us enough to continually enter the messiness of the world and somehow bring forth beauty and redemption. If the Savior can conquer sin and death and bring salvation to the Israelites from their plight, he can surely handle your messes, big or small.

Enter the divine mysteries and embrace the sights and sounds of the season with joyful expectation. Do it all with your eyes fixed on Christ. It all exists because of him anyway. So let us find him in everything, and count on him who began a good work in us to bring it to completion. Then, maybe this year, we will reach December 26th with renewed sparks of energy and hearts filled with the peace and joy that the world cannot give.