I love the Christmas season for many reasons: extra time with my family, outdoor hockey, delicious food, time off work, Christmas parties, and much more! Almost every Christmas season, my wife and I will make time to go for a drive just to look at some of the best Christmas lights around. It’s amazing how much time some people put into their light displays! My favorites are the ones that play music in time with the lights. So good! Especially when the songs are from some of my favorite Christmas movies – like Home Alone or The Grinch (with Jim Carrey of course). We really enjoy all of the bright lights! 

Often, however, our lives don’t feel quite so merry and bright. Christmas can be the hardest season of the year because of the financial stress it can bring, the tension in some of our most important relationships, the constant reminder of who’s no longer there to celebrate with us, or other reasons. Sometimes, amidst all of the shiny Christmas decorations, life can still feel surprisingly disappointing, hopeless, and dark – similar to how it was just before Jesus arrived.  

For thousands of years, the Israelites had encountered, experienced, and heard from God through prophets, priests, and kings. But just before Jesus showed up, God hadn’t spoken to them in hundreds of years. What was He even doing? Did he even notice his people? Was he going to rescue them from their oppression? The people were walking in darkness.  

This is one of the many reasons that Jesus is so great! He brings great hope! He brought hope when he first arrived, and he continues to bring hope today! Jesus came to shine his light in any and every dark situation of our lives. Whether that darkness is a bad habit you’re trying to break, an addiction you’re trying to overcome, a difficult loss, a mental health struggle, a damaged relationship or something else, I encourage you to invite Jesus to bring his light into your darkness because He is the light that leads to life!