“In his name the nations will put their hope.” (Matt 12:21, NIV2)

Hope is so precious that it gives us endurance. Remember the time you were counting the days until you were going to be married?

Still, human hope is often left wanting, as more often than not it sizzles into nothingness.

My first crush in life happened in grade 6. I agree with you, I was quite too young. Anne was in my class, and at that time I thought she was so beautiful. Now I wonder if I had hit my head somewhere and had a brain concussion! The only problem was this: I was quite shy, and I never ever talked to her. I could truly say it was a long-distance relationship. Still, I had hope that one day I would have the courage to approach her, which I never did, by the way, yet that hope sustained me all year.

Towards the end of the year, I was told that she had kissed another guy, right on his lips. I was so shocked that I didn’t want anything to do with her any longer. Yuck!

Such hope is hope built on shifting sand, and more often than not, we are left disappointed.

Last year, while we were leaving Watkins Glenn, NY, we discovered that the tail light on the left-hand side of our trailer was non-functional. We didn’t have a spare light, and since it was Columbus Day in the United States, we were pretty sure there wouldn’t be any stores open.

We were told at our campground that on our way back towards Canada we would find a store called Car Quest (Attractive name, don’t you think?) On route 14. We carefully watched for this fine store, slowing down whenever there was a potential store off the highway, but we never found it. Our hope drizzled to nothingness.

When hope evaporates, it is always better to rely on our Heavenly Father, and this is what we did. Once in Geneva (I wish I could say it was Geneva, Switzerland, but alas, it was Geneva, New York), we found a car repair store that was open, and it had the necessary bulb for less than 40 cents.

I have discovered in life that the only One I can always rely on is my Heavenly Father! Christmas is all about hope. Can you imagine if Jesus had never come to Bethlehem, where would our hope be? Instead, He did something wonderful that revolutionized our world. He brought hope that will never disappoint us, a hope that will last until eternity, a hope that never will evaporate into nothingness. I’d rather put my hope in Him than in anyone else. As I said before, hope in humans more often than not leave us wanting. Had I put my hope only in humans last Columbus Day, I would be still looking for Car Quest! Fortunately, hope in our Father is fulfilling.

Jesus came to our planet, bringing real hope. Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus!

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “Hope on the Horizon” devotional series, please click here.)