The Christmas season often arrives wrapped in expectations—twinkling lights, family gatherings, and dreams of perfect moments. But what happens when those expectations crumble? When prayers seem unanswered and hope feels like a distant memory?
I want to tell you about a different kind of hope. Not the wishful thinking that populates vision boards or the shallow optimism of motivational posters. I’m talking about a hope that transcends circumstances, a hope that doesn’t depend on our circumstances changing, but on a person who remains unchanged.
The Biblical Story of Unmet Expectations
Let me introduce you to Zechariah and Elizabeth—a couple who knew something about waiting. In the first century, they were pillars of their community, deeply devoted to God, from generations of priests who had served faithfully. Yet they carried a profound pain: they were childless. In a patriarchal society, this wasn’t just a personal disappointment—it was a social stigma, a constant reminder of what seemed like divine silence.
Imagine spending your entire life serving God, following every command blamelessly, and yet feeling like your most profound prayer has gone unanswered. They had likely stopped hoping years ago. The dream of a child had become a distant memory, a wound they had learned to live with.
Then something extraordinary happened. While Zechariah was serving in the temple, burning incense—a symbolic act representing the prayers of God’s people—an angel appeared. Not just any angel, but Gabriel, who stood directly in God’s presence. The message? After years of silence, God was about to do something remarkable.
Elizabeth would have a son. Not just any son, but a son with an epic calling—John, who would prepare the way for Jesus. The very child they had stopped believing would come would become a messenger announcing the most significant event in human history.
The Tension of Hope
Biblical hope is fascinating. In the original language, it’s described as a string pulled in tension—those unmet desires, those prayers that seem to hang in mid-air. It’s not about getting what we want, when we want it. It’s about trusting that God’s timing is perfect, even when it doesn’t align with our plans.
I think of a friend who had her first child in her 50s. Before you imagine the challenges, let me tell you—her joy is indescribable. She had her own timeline, her own expectations of when she’d meet her husband and have children. But God’s appointed time was different. Her child, born now, has a specific calling for this exact moment in history.
Isn’t that profound? God doesn’t work on our schedule. His ways are higher, His thoughts deeper. When we’re tempted to believe He’s forgotten us, He’s actually orchestrating something far more beautiful than we could imagine.
The Living Hope
Here’s the core of what I want to share: Hope isn’t a thing. Hope is a person. His name is Jesus.
This isn’t about receiving blessings or having every prayer answered exactly how we want. It’s about encountering a living, breathing relationship with God Himself. There’s a powerful worship song by Cody Carnes that captures this perfectly. The lyrics say, “I’m not here for blessings. Jesus, you don’t owe me anything. More than anything you can do, I just want you.”
Can you feel the weight of that? It’s vulnerable. It’s surrendering our demands and expectations, and simply wanting Jesus.
I recently met a young woman whose story illustrates this beautifully. She grew up in the church, doing all the “right” things. She was the designated driver at parties, the good kid. But in college, she wandered. She describes it as living “wild,” moving away from her faith.
Then, in her junior year, something remarkable happened. During a moment of complete brokenness, she experienced the living hope of Jesus. It wasn’t through a grand sermon or a massive event. It was through a barista who wrote “New Beginnings” on her coffee cup—a moment so specific, she knew it was God speaking.
At a worship night, she encountered Jesus in such a powerful way that her entire trajectory changed. Now, she’s passionate about sharing the gospel, training to go on missions, and unable to keep quiet about the transformation she’s experienced.
Regifting Hope
This Christmas, I want to challenge you. If you know Jesus—really know Him—don’t keep this hope to yourself. Our world is starving for hope. The “hope quotient” in our society is devastatingly low. Suicide rates increase during the holiday season. People are walking around with slumped shoulders, carrying invisible burdens.
Regifting hope might look like:
- Being unexpectedly generous
- Writing an encouraging note to a stranger
- Sharing a word of comfort with someone struggling
- Being prepared to share why you have hope when someone asks
Our church is challenging everyone to give just $1 a week in December to local ministries. It sounds small, but imagine if everyone participated—we could generate $20,000 to serve our community practically.
The apostle Peter reminds us to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” But here’s the key—do it with gentleness and respect.
An Invitation
So here’s my invitation to you this Christmas: Allow Jesus into those locked rooms of your heart. The places of disappointment, of unmet desires, of pain. Release those expectations and let Him fill those spaces.
If you’ve been around church but have never truly encountered the living hope of Jesus, I beg you—open your heart. He’s not interested in your perfect performance. He wants relationship.
And if you already know Him? Don’t keep Him to yourself. Be a carrier of hope. In a world desperate for something real, be the fragrance of Christ.
This hope transcends your circumstances. It doesn’t depend on everything working out perfectly. It’s a hope that says, even if nothing else changes, Jesus is enough.
As we enter this Christmas season, may you discover a hope that fills you, transforms you, and overflows to those around you.
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You can learn more about our beliefs and visit our video library to explore more topics like this one. You can also check out our events page to find out what fun new things we’re doing this season.
