177. "A Thrill of Hope" - Carols of Encouragement

Merry Christmas! Here we are on Christmas Eve. All month long we’ve been inspired by the timeless lyrics of biblical Christmas carols through our series Carols of Encouragement. We’ve reflected on the profound truths hidden in these songs, discovered how they speak to our everyday struggles, and embraced the hope, peace, and joy that Christ brings. Consequently, I pray these episodes continue to encourage your heart and point you back to Him. Today’s episode is the last in this series as we learn how we can find “a thrill of hope” when weariness of life settles in, especially during the holidays.

A Thrill of Hope - Carols of Encouragement | snow landscape with sun shining through line of trees

What do you get when a French parish priest asks a wine merchant to write a poem for Christmas Eve mass? You get the original version of O Holy Night. I share the surprising and interesting history of this beautiful Christmas carol, along with what it means to have “a thrill of hope.”

O holy night the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared
And the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
And yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

The thrill of hope. Can you feel it?

I couldn’t in December of 2006. My mom died just ten days before Christmas. I’ve shared the full story here before, and I’ll add a link to that episode in the show notes if you want to listen. But in the days following her death, I felt I had no hope, even though my faith was in Jesus. It was a season of unexplainable sadness and grief. Even though Christmas had always been my favorite, I could have cared less about it that year. The reality of never celebrating Christmas with the one who always made it special for me made me wonder, would I ever enjoy it again?

I don’t know what weariness you’re experiencing today, but I’m guessing you’re facing some.

If you could use a thrill of hope today, listen to the full 14-minute episode by clicking the player above.

That’s what I found in the difficult Christmas season of 2006. I found the thrill of hope because I began to cling to the promises of God. Even though it wasn’t what I would call a merry Christmas that year, I was reminded my hope came from a baby born in a manger with no crib for a bed on a silent night. My heart was preparing Him room.