The Hope of Christmas and every day.

Christine DiGiacomo
3 hours ago
4 min read

podcast: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/25e5cb0d/the-hope-of-christmas-and-every-day-advent-2025

How do you start your day?

With optimism or something less?

As a child, I remember one of my first thoughts when my eyes fluttered open was 'what do I have to look forward to today?' Okay, maybe that is still one of my first thoughts. Because of that, not long after my feet hit the floor I choose to land on this thought:

This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!1

Why rejoice? Because my relationship with God colors every single day with hope.

You see, no matter what is taking place in the world or in my individual life, “who God is” does not change -- why, God is all powerful, all knowing, always present, and He loves you and me unconditionally. What's more: God is faithful.’ Huh, when I led Fellowship of Christian Athletes at San Clemente High School, there was a young man who had the following verse tattooed on the inside of his arm:

-->"if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself."2<-- Wow.

STOP, consider: what are the implications of this truth in your life?

-->"if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself."2

'Ever wonder why David talked so much about faithfulness in the Psalms? Maybe because he was not always faithful, yet he was mindful and grateful that the God he loved was faithful regardless. Because the God he loved, loved him more, David said with joy, “I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.”³('feels like there should be an exclamation mark right there!)

How have I experienced God’s faithfulness? So many ways. On a daily basis, I am most grateful for—his presence, peace, love, grace and forgiveness.

Here's what I mean, syncing my thoughts on the truths of Scripture.

Presence Because the Holy Spirit lives in me, I am never alone; I know and feel God’s nearness. His promise: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”⁴

Peace In times of greatest pain and worry, God supplies his supernatural peace. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”⁵

Two promises, two truths: God's peace and his presence in our times of trouble.

Because I have known his peace, I have been able to honestly and forthrightly share it with others when they so desperately need inner peace and hope.

Take Letitia, for example. You might remember not long ago that I mentioned being in Hobby Lobby, singing along with the 'Great is Thy Faithfulness' instrumental hymn playing over head when I encountered a woman also humming along. Brief as our meetup was, I felt prompted to ask her if there was some particular way I might pray for her. 'Oh yes,' she said, 'will you pray for my son who has a court case?' 'I certainly will,'I replied, and so I did - right there in the store where we stood.

Note: I asked no details - not his name, age or reason for being in court; God knew all of that. When we parted, I gave her my card and she messaged me the next day. **Yesterday was the court date, and I let her know I was praying.

This morning she called to tell me of God's grace.

Note: In this mama's concern for her son, she had both the peace and the presence of God to comfort her, and a new sister to carry her child to Jesus.

Love God’s clearest and loudest language must surely be love. I mean, how else could you explain his continuing to love wholly unlovable people? The apostle John said that ‘everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God, because God is love. ⁶

^Grace^,^Forgiveness^{What sets Christianity apart from every other religion is the great grace of God. God did not leave us lost and in our sin, striving to get to him--tallying up good works for a score-keeping God; no, he came to us as Immanuel, and made a way for us to come to him through our faith in Jesus Christ.}⁷^{And because he is so good, if we confess our sins, he washes us clean and remembers our sins no more.}⁸^{No reason to live in shame - God's grace and forgiveness can be ours.}