The Bible definitely gives us all sorts of encouragement toward joy.

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NLT)

I think we all need extra doses of hope these days.

We are very used to being in control of things, but the pandemic places us in a reality where we realize we don’t have that control.

Christmas clearly proclaims the message of...hope. Hope that is found in the greatest gift we could ever receive--Jesus. Jesus is the bringer of hope.

So, this Christmas how can we be filled with hope? Here are some thoughts:

I’ve heard the same story in different settings, different forms, and different situations, but all very similar. Someone runs from God and while they are running, they run right into Him. Why? Because God pursues.

We all love a great pursuit story, be it a car chase, a rom-com where someone pursues someone else when it’s almost too late for the relationship to work out, or chasing a dream. But ultimately, it is God who is the ultimate pursuer. The One who chases us down.

During this pandemic, it is easy to just see the bad things happening all around us. However, a Biblical view on our present circumstances helps us see that what God could be doing during this time of life being upside down is actually giving us something wonderful and eternal—Himself!

Here are five things I’m learning from God during this time:

The Book of Colossians reminds us to reset our life by putting Jesus first. In a world that clamors for us to “put other things first”, with many loud and divisive voices all around us, and with our world still turned upside down - we all need a reset. We all need a refocus.

Here it is: Put Jesus first.

The Book of Colossians reminds us to reset our life by putting Jesus first. In a world that clamors “put other things first”, along with many loud and divisive voices all around us, and with our world still turned upside down—We all need a reset. What do we do?

Here it is: Put Jesus first.

How? Part of the answer scripture points us to is found in some interesting and challenging verses of the Bible found in Colossians 2.

It’s sort of a “here are your marching orders” as a Christian to go forward in our faith.

When was the last time you were asked to truly sacrifice? Sacrifice is not something that we like to lead with in life--it’s so...sacrificial.

It’s easier to sacrifice when you know that sacrifice will be appreciated, when you know it will lead to something good, something worthy of that sacrifice. It is much harder to make a sacrifice when you don’t know how it is going to turn out, when you don’t know if that sacrifice will ever be appreciated or even noticed.

Paul in the book of Colossians leads us to a perspective on sacrifice that is challenging and real.

We all need a reset.

Life has been upside-down for a while now. We have been reacting to situations beyond our control, trying to make sense and find our way forward. We have new habits, new priorities, new struggles, new challenges, and new opportunities.

Spiritually, we need to reset--to find clear priorities and purpose. The book of Colossians points us to a value of order that changes everything.

Most of us are uncomfortable with anger, mainly because we have seen the damage caused by uncontrolled anger. We’ve also done some damage ourselves with our anger. I’ve done both. I’ve been hurt by harsh angry words and actions, but I've also let damaging words spew from my mouth.

When one of the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5) is self-control - anger reveals our heart and how the Spirit is not in control - anger is.

I’ve always been impressed how the Bible includes so many examples of doubt. Evidently, God has some tolerance of doubt.

Doubt and faith are intertwined. Where there is certainty there is no room for faith. Honest doubt can be someone’s path to becoming a Christian and to growing faith.

We all come from different backgrounds, which means we react with different feelings in similar situations. But the one feeling that captures the current time and season we are all in is…anxiety.

Often, we react to anxiety by thinking, “I just need more faith”, or “I need to muscle through and get over it.” But there is another approach to anxiety which is Biblical and practical.

We have all been in a pandemic beyond a virus. There is another pandemic that is going on beneath the surface that doesn’t get as much press or coverage or attention—the mental and emotional health pandemic.

“One out of two people are currently wrestling with mental and emotional health challenges.” Kaiser Foundation

Anger, a short fuse, running on fumes, feeling burned out, running away from things, shutting people out - we’ve all been there. And COVID has added to the struggle. One type of setback is when we have an empty emotional tank.

What do we do when life empties our tank? When we face depression

When we look at plants, our focus is on what we can see, on what is visible above ground. We admire a rose on a rose bush, the fruit on an apple tree, or the majesty of a redwood tree.

But for any plant to grow and thrive, it must have an extensive root system below ground. The root system is not visible and can’t be seen but is vital to the health of the plant. A 10-foot-wide tree has roots that can range from 10-15 feet away from the trunk.

As followers of Jesus, it is easy to focus on the visible things: church activities, our actions, and service to God. But repeatedly, the Bible tells us that those visible activities must come from our deep roots with Him.

There is a battle we all struggle through--which habits will we have in our lives? We can have good habits (exercise, eating healthy) and bad habits (no exercise, eating badly). Spiritually, we can have anchor habits. An anchor habit is a pattern that helps us grow spiritually, a small, regular step toward God and what He has for us. Examples of anchor habits are things like: praying regularly, being involved in a Bible study group, going to church, being generous, and having an attitude of surrender toward God.

And there is one anchor habit that positively impacts all areas of our lives: daily Bible reading.

There is a battle we all struggle through--which habits will we have in our lives? An anchor habit is a pattern that helps us grow spiritually. A small, regular step toward God and what He has for us. Then there are bad habits. The world labels actions like smoking, and nail biting as bad habits. But followers of Jesus understand that any habitual thought or action that is sinful is a pattern that separates us from God and keeps us from being the person He wants us to be.

It is a battle.

Habits matter.

One area that is vital for yourself is developing spiritual habits. There are several spiritual habits that bring us closer to God. These habits help us pursue God above all else.

During this pandemic through last year and this year, we have all been developing habits that we will carry with us past the pandemic. Because the pandemic will eventually come to an end, and you are being shaped by your current habits a key question is this

So, here’s the question: Are your current habits the habits that you want to keep when the pandemic is over?

Setbacks seem normal lately. Delta Covid, the sluggish economy, you can’t get a replacement part, you can’t get something shipped on time, and the list goes on.

Our hope can struggle. Our answer?

But God.