Happy Friday, everyone! You know, writing a letter to Santa Claus is an American tradition. A cartoonist named Thomas Nast created an image depicting Santa Claus at his desk with a stack of Christmas wish lists from children, both naughty and nice. And even with the technology, the tradition still stands today. Let me ask you, do you remember writing such a wish list? Do you remember what was on it?

I think one of the reasons this is so embedded with us is because each list holds wishes, desires, or hopes of the heart. So what’s on your Christmas list this year? Writing a Christmas list of things you wish for is an exercise of hope. National Geographic states that adults can survive 2 to 3 minutes without air, up to 11 minutes if you practice, seven days without water, and about 45 days without food.

But the one thing that humans can’t survive without is hope. Neuroscience has shown hope to be the difference between a healthy and lengthened life, or a life shortened and steeped in despair. In one study of the elderly, those who said they felt hopeless were more than twice as likely to die during the study follow-up period than those who were more hopeful.

But it’s only when our hope is anchored in Jesus that we are guaranteed that we will not be disappointed. Romans 5:5 explains, “In this, hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.” Our wish list for you this Christmas is that you would find hope in the knowledge that you are so loved.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You very much for Christmas and thank You for bringing hope into the midst of a broken world. Continue to remind us that You have kept every one of Your promises, and You will be faithful to every one You make. And the best thing about Christmas is it’s a proof of how much You love us.

May we go into this weekend with that knowledge and with that hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.