Christmas brings a lot of feelings to the surface for most of us. The NEED to “get it all done” and then the glaring shame of all the things we didn't accomplish this past year. Maybe the grief of a loved one lost, or friendships that ended. Maybe it's the nostalgia of the season, or the fact that another year is coming to a close, but instead of trying to bury it all under the surface, what if you allowed it all to be there with you this year? After all, two things can be true at once. Grief for the past AND anxious expectation for the good that is to come. Don’t lose hope…

It's a daring thing to hold out hope. We want so badly to have proof. To know for certain that something is coming to pass, AND that we'll know exactly what to expect when it does come.

When Jesus was born, it had been hundreds of years since God spoke to his people. There was a separation and silence that was deafening, and yet, the people held out hope that their savior was coming. It was prophesied, and they believed it.

It was this anxious expectation that kept them moving forward. The hope of something better. Then, Jesus was born! Our savior arrived, but in a totally unexpected way. They were looking for a king on a valiant steed, but instead, got a newborn in a manger.

What they got was Emmanuel (God with us). Instead of silence, there was constant access. Have we forgotten?

This Christmas, you may be experiencing disappointment, grief, sadness, or longing, but this natural part of the human experience is not a bad thing to ignore or suppress. It is to be felt. It is what drives us as humans to hope. It may sound strange, but regardless of what is happening, you always have a choice. You can allow negative feelings to prove that it's all over and there's nothing more to live for, OR you can allow it to fuel your audacious hope. Remembering that God is literally WITH you! Everywhere you go, in every situation. You have access.

If you're alive and still breathing, there is something more for you. More life to experience, more people to know, more food to eat, more memories to make, and lives to impact. We were never promised an easy life, but we were promised a more meaningful one.

Hold out hope. Open your mind to something unexpected, allow ALL the feelings, and come with anxious expectation for an adventurous life with Emmanuel.