16 results for tag: Hymns of Hope

Hymns of Hope: Joy to the World

When it seems as though the whole world is intent on joyful celebrations, Christmas movie marathons, winter wonderlands, and gift exchanges, it can be hard to imagine how your grief fits into all of the merriment around you. But one thing we often forget in all of the holiday bustle is that the Christmas story is intertwined with sorrow. God's people had endured years of oppression and hardship and 400 years of silence from God. They were under Roman occupation and longed for the coming of the Messiah that had been promised long ago. Jesus was coming to a burdened, waiting, and hurting people. Even the magnificence of the birth of Christ was tinged ...

Hymns of Hope: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

Written in 1849 by Edmund Sears, the words of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" is one of the few Christmas hymns that does not actually mention the birth of Christ. Instead, this song focuses on the good news that the angels brought that first Christmas morn. After appearing to the shepherds outside of Bethlehem, the angels sang of the glory of God and the peace that is ours in Christ. In the fields that night, the song of the angels rang out, piercing the darkness and declaring the arrival of the long-awaited Savior. Hope had come at last. It came upon a midnight clearThat glorious song of oldFrom angels bending near the earthTo touch their harps ...

Hymns of Hope: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Originally written by Charles Wesley in 1739, the hymn, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” draws its inspiration from the second chapter of Luke. “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrap...

Hymns of Hope: O Holy Night

The world had long been groaning under the curse of sin. Generation after generation pining for the Messiah that had been promised on that fateful day long ago when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden and death spread to all mankind. But this night was not like all the others before it. For on this night a thrill of hope pierced through the darkness and broke forth into a new and glorious day. Weary souls rejoiced on the night when Christ was born. O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shiningIt is the night of the dear Savior's birth!Long lay the world in sin and error piningTill he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.A thrill of hope the weary soul ...

The Weary World Rejoices

For weeks now, the world has been eagerly anticipating Christmas Day. That’s what the Advent season is all about—waiting. Clinging to hope. Knowing and trusting that help is on its way. The baby in the manger is coming. One day all will be made right. Advent invites us to sit in the tension between the promise and its fulfillment. It gives voice to the longing in our hearts. The people of Israel expected the Messiah to liberate them from the oppression of the Romans. But Christ’s coming didn’t bring the political relief they were expecting. Much in the same way, we often expect Christ’s coming to deliver us from all suffering, but ...

Hymns of Hope: O Little Town of Bethlehem

The City of David was situated on a hill just a few miles south of Jerusalem. Weary travelers, brought in by the census, were packed in every available room in town. Yet, in the quietness of night, while the streets lay in sleepy silence, the stillness was broken by the cry of a baby. Into the darkness, Light had dawned, and the course of history was forever changed in that little town of Bethlehem. O little town of Bethlehem,how still we see thee lie!Above thy deep and dreamless sleepthe silent stars go by;yet in thy dark streets shineththe everlasting light.The hopes and fears of all the yearsare met in thee tonight. That ...

Hymns of Hope: Come, Thou Long Expectant Jesus

Although the people of Israel had been long awaiting the coming of the Messiah, He did not come as they expected Him to. They expected the triumphant coming of a king, but not one born in a humble stable. They expected Him to be adored and extolled at His coming, but not by lowly shepherds. They expected Him to confront their oppressors, not the piety of their religious leaders. In fact, all throughout the gospels, we see the long expected Jesus breaking all our expectations. We tend to fill our thoughts of Christ with our own suppositions of what He should be like, and what He should do on our behalf. But Jesus did not leave the ...

Hymns of Hope: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O come, O come! God, be with us! This was Israel’s cry. Aching. Yearning. Hoping. How long, O Lord? They cried out to God in the midst of their exile, first under Babylon and then under the oppression of the Roman empire. They longed for rescue, for all that was wrong to be made right. They knew the Promised One would come to ransom them. Surely the Messiah would be here soon. In their mourning, they waited for His coming. Clinging to expectation and hope, they rejoiced at the promise of His rescue, knowing that their God was faithful. He would keep His word. O come, O come! God, be with us! And He did. God Himself ...

Hymns of Hope: Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go

Many of the hymns were born out of immense sorrow. In this series, we will examine these songs of old, discover the circumstances behind when they were written, and find comfort in the lyrics that so powerfully point us to the hope of Christ. Have you ever felt pain from something that others have and you don’t? Like a relationship? A baby? A family with children? Living children? You might find comfort in this old hymn—a source of words brought forth from reminders of the author’s own pain and what he, himself, did not have. This song, Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go, resonated with me in my dark days of grief. As you read the ...

Hymns of Hope: Blessed Assurance

Many of the hymns were born out of immense sorrow. In this series, we will examine these songs of old, discover the circumstances behind when they were written, and find comfort in the lyrics that so powerfully point us to the hope of Christ. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. Surely the person who penned those words I sang hundreds of times growing up never knew heartache. Surely.  Not so. Fanny Crosby was a mother who never got to raise her child. Her daughter died in her sleep shortly after being born, and only a few relatives and close friends knew of her loss until the end of her life ...