While we all may have different adult Christmas experiences, if we compared our Christmas experiences as kids, they probably would be quite similar. Most of us experienced the agonizing wait for Christmas to arrive. As kids it seemed like it took forever, but the good thing was that Christmas always came!

The dynamic of waiting, waiting, waiting, actually setup the first Christmas. For many, many generations there was a remnant of Jewish people who waited eagerly for the arrival of the Messiah God promised. However, over the years many Jews would abandon their hope & trust in the God who "may" have given this promise hundreds/thousands of years earlier. There were 2 followers who didn't lose their hope & trust in this God & His promise.

This is an important story because at some point in all of our religious experiences, God is so quiet. God seems so inactive. In those moments, seasons, years or periods of life, it is normal to ask "Why am I doing this?"

In Luke 1:5-27, we read about Zechariah & Elizabeth's faithful service to God and yet they couldn't have kids even into their old age. Even though all the circumstances around them said God wasn't coming through personally or nationally, they continued to live their lives as if God was faithful and would come through. The story of Christmas renews our hope & trust in God. The story of Christmas is a reminder that your faith & hope in God are not in vain.

Will you be a part of that remnant of people who continues to place their hope & trust in God?