There is more

Just in the last few weeks three people that I have known have passed on to the next life. The sorrow of those left behind is particularly difficult at this time of year when so much of the activity around us is in pursuit of merriment and cheer.
Yet it is precisely the message of Christmas that brings consolation and hope to the grieving. The arrival of the God-child in our broken world was foretold centuries ago by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 9:2,6) and again affirmed in the opening pages of the New Testament:

"The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined." Matthew 4: 16 NLT

And don’t we all have moments when the shadows of life seem to overtake us, shadows of loss, and failure, of pain and regret, dashed hopes, broken hearts. ...And deep within those moments, there’s a longing for light to dispel the shadows. Yes, even today there is light and hope…

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1: 5 NLT

Yes and there is more. The wonder and mystery of God choosing to dwell among us, fallen that we are, cannot be explained with logic but only in the language of His infinite and incomprehensible love.

When the Father’s Wisdom wanted to communicate His love
He spoke it in one final perfect Word.
He spoke the Incarnation and then so was born the Son. His final word was Jesus, He needed no other one.
Spoke flesh and blood so He could bleed and make a way Divine.
And so was born the baby who would die to make it mine.
(Excerpt from Final Word by Michael Card)

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing… (Romans 15:13 NASB).