Are you weary from trying and feeling like a failure? It’s a Wonderful Life failed 70 years ago, but now it’s one of the top Christmas movies.
{Psst! Check out the Behold Advent devotional series. Refocus on Jesus and release your weary.}
Did you know “It’s a Wonderful Life” turned 70 last year?
Did you know it initially bombed at the box office, leaving the producer in debt and feeling like a failure?
The movie that featured a main character who thought his life didn’t matter ~ didn’t catch anyone’s attention initially.
But think about it this way:
The movie that NOW ranks in the top three of every major list featuring “Best Christmas Movies” rolled out with a whimper decades ago. I find that encouraging. How about you?
Feeling like a Failure
Did you try something that whimpered this year?
Are you weary from investing with very little return?
Are you waiting … and in the waiting, questioning if you are on the right track?
That word “weary” comes up a lot this time of year.
The holidays magnify aspects of life that aren’t like they used to be, and the year’s end brings on reflection like a tidal wave.
We’re faced with all the hopes and dreams unfulfilled and weary threatens to squeeze out wonderful.
In place of trusting God’s timing, our faulty thinking tempts us to feel like a failure.
I don’t know about you, but if you’re even slightly normal, you likely need this reminder here at year-end.
Timing is everything
A few Christmases ago, I heard a sermon that lived on in my head ALL this year. The preacher made this concluding statement:
To God:
Time is nothing.
~ but ~
TIMING is everything.
The Christmas season reminds us of this truth:
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son …” (Gal. 4:4)
The weary world had watched for millennia for the promised Savior, but the new and glorious morn dawned when God determined the timing was full, or fulfilled.
Think about the many centuries the promise lay unfulfilled.
The Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith” ends by noting that NONE of those heroes received what was promised.
(vs. 39)
Yet, they persevered.
They watched.
They waited.
They worked.
And that’s the next thing.
Don’t give up
The truth Paul spoke of in Galatians 4 about “fullness of time” is wrapped in the Christmas advent.
The charge he delivers in chapter 6 is also perfect for year-end reflection:
“And let us not grow weary of doing good,
for in due season we will reap,
if we do not give up.
So then, as we have opportunity,
let us do good to everyone …”
(Gal. 6:9-10)
Weary.
There’s that word weary again.
And it’s paired with a timing phrase: “in due season.”
It’s also followed by a promise of hope and a call to keep going.
So there’s a theme here for us.
The answer to weary
is to trust God’s timing,
continue in our calling,
and never give up hope.
Speaking of hope, the Christmas hymn “O Holy Night” may not be inspired, but it is certainly inspiring:
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Til He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Dear friend, 2000 years ago, the promise was worth the wait.
The same is true today.
The thrill of HOPE will not disappoint if we look to the one who breaks through the darkness with a new and glorious morn.
And really, what other choice do we have?
So we replace our weary whimpers with reminders that “It’s a Wonderful Life” because Jesus appeared the first time. And we wait with eyes fixed on the promise of His RETURN.
We swap our “tired of trying” and “feeling like a failure” for a resolve to “rest in God’s timing.”
And we exchange our struggling for worth to falling on our knees, trusting Him to thrill us with His hope.
Do you have a plan for Advent?
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Combat feelings of discouragement and brokenness with survival-grade faith.
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