Santiago 1:2-3

In all the holiday hustle and bustle, it can be easy to lose sight of why we’re celebrating. In this 5-day advent plan, we’ll dive into the promises fulfilled by the birth of Jesus and the hope we have for the future. As we learn more about who God is, we’ll discover how to live through the holiday season with hope, faith, joy, and peace.

Suffering can be perplexing. God’s people—and even Jesus himself—have often asked the “Why?” question when facing suffering. Scripture pulls back the curtain to reveal some, though not all, of God’s purposes in permitting suffering to enter our lives. Through it all, we are called to persevere faithfully, resting in the assurance of ultimate victory and eternal reward.

Each of us is sure to suffer at some point in our lives. As a counselor, I’ve seen sufferers transformed. I’ve seen those once debilitated by trauma learn to suffer well. In this brief devotional, I pray that you will realize that your story is not over. You may experience suffering, but you can suffer well. You can ask, What’s next? instead of getting stuck asking, Why? You can become resilient.

Christmas is supposed to be a season of joy –– but what exactly is joy and how do you choose it when the world is filled with hurt and hardship? Discover what “joy to the world” really means by immersing yourself in the Christmas story with this special, 7-day Christmas Plan.