What do you hope for? Some of us hope for lofty things: a radical change in our circumstances, a lottery jackpot, the rebirth of a love or friendship lost, a dream vacation, world peace. Some of us hope to simply make it through the day, a momentary relief from a constant pain, a kind word, a warm meal, a soft bed. What do you hope for?

It is tempting to give up hope when all we see is the current situation we are in. It is tempting to give up hope when we believe the lie that we are all alone, that everything depends on us, on our strength, our abilities, our efforts, our intellect and determination.

That first Christmas God's people had every reason to abandon hope. The deck was stacked against them. Rome was in control. Rome exploited them by brute force. Only a limited number had power, comfort, and control. Even they hoped for something that could not be taken from them by the next battle, the next Caesar, the next harvest, the next financial crisis.

The miracle that occurred that first Christmas brought a different message, and a different kind of hope. God's decision to invest Himself personally, and directly, in this world, and more importantly in the people He had created, brought a Hope that was definite, real, guaranteed. Christmas tells us that our future is not uncertain, random, or meaningless.

The immediate circumstances did not change with the arrival of the world's Savior. Rome was still in temporary control. Pain and disease were still present in every life. Poverty and need a constant companion for many. And yet something dramatically changed with that One birth we celebrate at Christmas. When Jesus appeared He brought with Him power above all power, and love beyond all love.

At Christmas we sing, "Do you see what I see?" When we see, really see, the miracle of Jesus we find Hope that is not vague or uncertain. We discover we are not alone … God is with us. We trust that no matter our current circumstance … God's love and power are ours. We see the pain and trouble we are now in differently. Our troubles are temporary, our future, eternal. Do you see what I see?