For Those Who Need Hope this Holiday Season 

As Christians, we live in expectant hope that this world is not our home. But have you ever pondered the wonder that Jesus left that home—His home—to come to this world? He left heaven to come to earth as a baby.

We often view the Advent season as a time of preparing our hearts for Him. But it’s good to pause and remember that He ultimately is preparing a place for us.

I thought this entry from Find Hope devotional might encourage your hearts this season. As we navigate the heartbreaks and hostilities of a fractured world, maybe that’s partly the point. Not because God isn’t good. But as a reminder that this place will never be—and was never meant to be—our home.

If you’re weary, frustrated, or longing for more than this world has to offer, may this week’s blog, found on Day 52 of Find Hope, encourage you. Enjoy!

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so,  

would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 

—John 14:2 

We Will Never Be Truly Comfortable Here 

A particular national park had once been a beautiful destination, with nature trails and a large clearing overlooking breathtaking views. But when budget cuts led to a lack of oversight, that clearing attracted long-term campers. And with no bathrooms or bulk trash disposal, it was soon so overwhelmed with trash and waste that visitors stopped coming and even the squatters found it distasteful.  

The park simply wasn’t equipped to be a place to live. Trying to make a beautiful stopping place into a residence led to difficulty and discomfort, which reminded the residents that it wasn’t built as a permanent home.  

We need to be reminded of that same thing about our world—and God often uses difficulties and discomfort to do it. 

It is so easy to lose hope when we see sickness, aging, war, loneliness, constant toil, and so many other heartaches. We forget that all these troubles come because we are living in a world corrupted by sin, one that can never be our true home.  

Even worse, like the futile effort of trying to find solace by living in a park, we tend to actively seek comfort and hope in the things of this fallen world instead of those of the world to come. We get intense about going to the gym to try to look better and feel better about ourselves. We seek affirmation from a relationship, from being a good mom, or from being lauded as the company’s best store manager in the whole state.  

We are hoping to finally feel comfortable, but God doesn’t want us to find comfort in those things! So, we feel discontent instead.  

Through our discomfort, God allows us to be constantly reminded that these places we are looking for contentment are not built for that purpose. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be healthy and fit. Or working to be a great store manager. But God has set it up so that those earthly things will never give us true happiness.  

God wants fellowship with Him to be the only basis for our satisfaction. He wants our hearts to yearn for that—to yearn for heaven, not for the things of this world. So when we feel discouraged or lonely, let’s use that prompt to remember that this world is just a stopping place, and that there is another Place, overlooking a far more beautiful vista, that is in fact built to be our home.

Shaunti’s “Find” Devotionals (Find Rest, Find Joy, and Find Hope) feature an anchor scripture, sixty devotions, reflection questions, and space to journal your own thoughts on beautifully illustrated, color pages. They make elegant Christmas gifts and are a great resource to start the New Year off with friends, sisters, or small groups. Pick up a copy today.

If you are interested in having Shaunti bring research-based strategies, practical wisdom and biblical principles to your next event, please contact Nicole Owens at [email protected].

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