I think it is fitting that Christmas falls at the end of the year. Life has a way of weighing us down. If we get caught up in the race of life throughout the year, it is easy for our attention to to be diverted from a Christ-focus to a life-focus. The inevitable result will be increased emptiness and weariness. Discontentment driven by a desire for more earthly comfort and gratification will soon leave us empty. Our fallen nature leaves us extremely susceptible to self-motivated living rather than faith motivated pursuit of God and His will. In Isaiah 7-8 we find the nation of Judah caught again in such a trap. Once again their own way leads to devastation and emptiness. Have you been caught in the same trap? Thank God He doesn’t leave us in our darkness! The story of Christmas reminds us that God shines the light of hope into even the darkest night!