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 knowing Christ does not eliminate pain and sorrow from our lives. The joy of Christmas is often intertwined with great sorrow. Maybe you feel like you will never enjoy the celebrations surrounding Christmas again, and they may never be the same as they were before loss.

However, God’s presence among us, the incarnation of His beloved Son, reminds us that we do not walk through pain and sorrow on our own. His coming means that though we suffer, we don’t suffer without hope. In the midst of the heartache, He draws near. He grants us strength. He comforts our hearts and grants us peace.

We live between the already and the not yet. Christ has come. He has purchased our forgiveness with His blood. Our debt has been paid. The grave has been overcome. But we still live in a sin-cursed world. Our hearts still yearn for our heavenly home. Tears still flow. While we rejoice at Christ’s birth it is okay to also kneel at His feet and weep because of the brokenness all around you.

As you reflect today on the birth of our dear Savior, set your weary heart on the promise of His return. The trials you face, though heavy indeed, are momentary in light of the glorious inheritance that awaits you in heaven. As you quiet your heart in wonder at His coming all those years ago, call to mind that this child born in Bethlehem has borne your grief. His life and death have made a way for you to be in right standing with God. Through Him, you have been rescued from sin and death.

With eternity in view, the weary world rejoices despite its suffering, because we know that one day it will all end. A new and glorious morn will break. Death will be swallowed up in victory. He will break the chains of sin. Oppression with cease. Our tears will be no more. The King is coming again, and this time He will bring us home. So let us raise a grateful chorus and praise His holy name.

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and ever pining
‘Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn’
Fall on your knees, o hear the angels’ voices
O night divine, o night when Christ was born
O night divine, o night, o night divine

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
With all within, let us praise His holy name

Christ is the Lord, His Name forever praise we
Noel, Noel, o night, o night divine

Ashlee is the Editorial Coordinator for Hope Mommies and author of I AM (Hope Mommies, 2017) and Identity (Hope Mommies, 2018). She and her husband, Jesse, live in Milwaukee with their children—five on earth and two in heaven.

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