The evening before the birth of my second child, I went into a “nesting” phase, that time of urgency to clean and organize to prepare for my new baby.
I had decided that our bedroom needed a splash of character, so I had bought a few frames and pictures to put up on the wall. After deciding what wall needed what frame, my husband pulled out the measuring tape and nailed them up carefully in their precise positions.
About three hours later, I went into labor.
We rushed to the hospital as my labor was intensifying, my husband driving with one hand and the other holding mine. The pain was indescribable.
The doctor that came into the room was one we had never met, but he had compassionate eyes and such a tranquil demeanor. He asked us the intended name for our son as he gowned up. When he heard that it was the name of a Biblical prophet, he mentioned, “Oh! From the Bible.” Then, as he calmly helped to deliver my son, he said, “A prophet is among us!”
My husband and I cherish that memory because we felt that day, the doctor was speaking something very special into our baby’s life. What a sweet finale to such a painful time of labor and a long nine-month period of waiting…of anticipating. Here he was, our special little guy.
The Old Testament of the Bible recounts the time of punishment of the Israelites with famine, plague, sword, and captivity due to their persistent disobedience to God. Over and over, God reminds his people that only He should be worshiped, but they continued to follow other gods. Numerous prophets warn them of the destruction that will come. “Repent and obey!” they plead. But, to no avail.
We see, however, tiny slivers of hope through a few prophets like Zechariah, who says, “Rejoice! Shout! Look! Your king is coming.” (Zechariah 9) He is telling them that through the darkness, a light will be coming.
Then…400 years of silence. Not a sound. You know…that one single blank page between Malachi of the Old Testament and the first page of Matthew of the New Testament? That represents 400 years of silence.
And all of a sudden, hope is born as a tiny little babe in the unlikeliest of places…a lowly manger. Jesus, the light of the world, breaks through the darkness and makes his home among us.
God is here!
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
As a child of God, there is always hope for you.
What situation are you facing today that seems to be “hopeless”? God is here!
Is anxiety taking your mind captive? God is here!
Just as labor pains end as a new life begins, and just darkness is taken over by a bright light, God can come into your circumstance and bring hope.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him…” Romans 15:13
-Betsy
