I think most of us can agree 2020 has been a rough year. For many of us, it could be one of the worst years because many haven’t lived through the Great Depression or the rationing of WWII to understand these hardships. We all want peace and comfort at the end of this year. Most of us are tired, worn out, and exhausted — mentally, physically, and emotionally.
In this year of trials upon trials, we all want a little hope and peace to come our way. That’s what makes this December all the more special. Countless people I’ve talked with have put up their Christmas and seasonal decorations earlier in order to capture the joy that seems to ooze out of every Christmas lightbulb.
Starting at the end of last year and going well into this year none of the holidays have been celebrated on the actual day for my family. Keeping with that tradition that has seem to happen, we haven’t celebrated Thanksgiving yet. So instead of eating turkey and stuffing on Thanksgiving, we ended up hanging the door that goes into the garage and decorating my house for Christmas! My parents and I have never decorated for Christmas that early, and this year it was a struggle to wait that long!
With all of us longing for hope and peace after this trying year, it seems quite fitting that we are getting, what I like to call it, The Double-Star Hope or the The Christmas Star. According to NBC News, Saturn and Jupiter will line up to create one big star to the naked eye. The is the first time since 1623 this has happened, however, the last time it was actually seen to the naked eye was 1226. In this time where we long for hope and peace, we have the Christmas Star in the sky, just as the world longed for peace and hope before the original Christmas Star was put in the sky.
Think about this, from the end of the Old Testament and the last words from the prophets, it was about 400 hundred years until the New Testament came and Christ came. Though it might be considered the “silent years” history shows many conquerers, oppressions, and freedoms that define the Jewish people. [Douglas J. Moo, NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible] The world was living in darkness without words from prophets. I’m sure the Israelites were questioning God saying, “Where are You? Why have You abandoned us?” They were looking for a conquerer from God that would end their oppression and strife because the prophet, Isaiah, had told them much earlier:
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
[Isaiah 9:6, BibleGateway]
Then 400 years passed by and I’m sure the Israelite’s hope had dimmed. That’s a long time to wait and many generations passed through until that day the Christmas Star appeared in the sky. Instead of a grand entrance of a King conquering everything underneath His feet as everyone expected, the world was given “hope” in swaddling cloths. This baby came without fanfare to most people, except the shepherds in the fields and the wise men traveling from afar. The star in the sky signified God’s hope to mankind in the most gentle way. Sometimes God chooses to reveal Himself to us in grandiose ways, like He did parting the Red Sea, and sometimes He appears in the more gentle and peaceful ways, like He did to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
[1 Kings 19:11-13, BibleGateway]
God chooses to reveal Himself to us in many ways, and I believe The Double-Star Hope/Christmas Star is the way He’s revealing Himself to us now. He knows what’s been going on, how we feel, and our longing for peace in this world. Just as the original Christmas Star signified hope for the world, God is using this imagery to give us hope once again. It’s the quiet whisper in the sky saying, “I know what’ve you’ve been through. I grieve with every single one of you. I want to comfort you. Use this star as the reminder of when I sent My Son to bring you to Me. I am waiting with open arms, My child. Let Me hold you and comfort you. There is always hope.”
God’s powerful message in the sky has given this weary soul hope just as it did those looking for the Savior of the world 2,000 years ago. Let God gently bestow the Hope of the World in you today. That’s why He sent His Son, Jesus, to be born in a manager and then die for our sins, which created a way to heaven when we accept Jesus as our Savior. This is the free gift God offers us without reserve because every single one of us are His children.
Merry Christmas, everyone! May this Christmas season show you the true meaning behind love and hope.
Keeping the perspective,
Lauren
You. Are. Beautiful. 
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