Another Holiday Season

We enter another holiday season with EMPTY HANDS. It sounds dramatic. We think of kids dying of hunger, women being abused, war in other countries, families in dire situations that we cannot even begin to understand, and we think, “Our circumstances do not even compare to what they may be going through. Why do we feel as though we are suffering similarly month after month?” But for us, this is our reality, our hurt, and our suffering. It cannot be compared. It’s a trial God has chosen just for us.

December is a difficult month, this year especially. We’ve heard 42 loud and clear “no’s” for 42 months of trying, and we are welcoming our fourth holiday season with no news of a pregnancy. More doctor’s visits then we can count, thousands of dollars, 3 IUI’s, ultrasounds, procedures, treatments—the circumstances seem HOPELESS for the outcome we desire. As time moves on, the multitude of “no’s” seem to overwhelm the possibility of a “yes,” and HOPE fades.

Thankfully, no matter what the outcome our circumstances will bring, our story will never end in HOPELESSNESS.

For during this holiday season, we are also reminded of the only HOPE, Christ. We are reminded of one who was long expected, the consolation and only HOPE of Israel. Israel, miserable and oppressed, waited for the Old Testament prophecy of Christ’s birth to be fulfilled for hundreds of years. Israel believed He would come and they waited; they desired His coming; they hoped for His coming.

We wait for Christ. Not as Israel waited for Christ, a promise yet to come. We wait for Christ, the prophecy fulfilled. He is our only hope. He is our only rest. He is the only longing of our hearts. And this December we remember Christ, and our hands our FULL.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus


Born to set Thy people free;


From our fears and sins release us,


Let us find our rest in Thee.


Israel’s Strength and Consolation,


Hope of all the earth Thou art;


Dear Desire of every nation,


Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,


Born a child and yet a King,


Born to reign in us forever,


Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.


By Thine own eternal Spirit


Rule in all our hearts alone;


By Thine all sufficient merit,


Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

~Paige