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LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF
HOPELESSNESS
They don’t know, they don’t understand,
they wander about in darkness . . .
(Psalm 82:5 – Complete Jewish Bible)
We expectantly hope for light, but only see darkness;
We hope for gleam of light, but we walk in darkness
and gloom. (Isaiah 59:9 – The Amplified Bible)
The darkness of discouragement
We experience a loss of joy
The darkness of depression
We experience a loss of peace
The darkness of despair
We experience a loss of hope
When you lose joy, peace and hope you feel sad,
lost and abandoned –this was the historical context
in which Jesus was born
400 SILENT YEARSISRAEL LIVED 166,400 DAYS
WITHOUT HEARING A WORD FROM GOD
BUT CHRISTMAS CHANGES
EVERYTHING
Those who walked in the dark have seen a bright light. And it
shines upon everyone who lives in the land of darkest shadows . . .
A child has been born for us. We have been given
a son who will be our ruler.
His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace. His power will never end; peace will
last forever. (Isaiah 9:2. 6 – Contemporary English Version)
I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an
unfamiliar way. I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth
out the road ahead of them.
Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them.
(Isaiah 42:16 – New Living Translation)
All this will be because the mercy of our God is very tender, and heaven’s
dawn is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, and to
guide us to the path of peace.
(Luke 1:78-79 – Living Bible)
Before anything else existed there was Christ, with God. He has
always been alive and is himself God.
He created everything there is—nothing exists that he didn’t
make. Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to
all mankind.
His life is the light that shines through the darkness—and the
darkness can never extinguish it . . . Later on, the one who is the true Light arrived to shine on everyone
coming into the world . . .
Christ became a human being and lived here on earth among us and was full of loving forgiveness and
truth.
And some of us have seen his glory—the glory of the only Son of the heavenly Father! (John 1:1-5, 9,
14 – Living Bible)
To regain hope, you must focus on who God is — his unchanging
nature. Regardless of circumstances and how you feel,
you must hang on to God's unchanging character.
Remind yourself what you know to be eternally true about God: He is good, he loves me, he is with me, he knows what I'm
going through, he cares, and he has a good plan for my life.
Never doubt in the dark what God told you
in the light. (Raymond Edman)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as
you trust in him.(Romans 15:13 – New International Version)
H O P E
He
Offers
Powerful
Encouragement
Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing:
The Lord's unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as
the morning as sure as the sunrise.
The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope.
(Lamentations 3:21-24 – Good News Bible)
Stop your crying and wipe away your tears . . . there is hope for
your future. (Jeremiah 31:16-17 – Good News Bible)
When you’re at a dead-end, Jesus can take that
hopeless end and turn it into an endless hope.
You’ll never know that God is all you need until he’s all you
have.
Let’s Pray
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