One of the stories Dad and I loved came from an experiment designed to see how well people can spot talent. The experiment included one of the best musicians in the world playing a 3.5-million-dollar violin and had him play in a busy metro. People typically pay a minimum of $100 a ticket to see him perform live. The experiment discovered that in this setting most people rushed on by and never noticed that one of the top violinists in the world was playing. Most of us miss talent. We miss recognizing talent in our teams, and in our families. We miss seeing it in the mirror every day. 
 
We not only miss talent, but we also miss recognizing those who are struggling. The great poet Maya Angelou said, “We, unaccustomed to courage exiles from delight live coiled in shells of loneliness.” 
 
How many of your friends and family struggle with lack of courage and with feeling alone?  
 
Christmas is a time when many people feel most alone. Despite all the decorations, presents, and time together, there can be a deep and abiding emptiness for some. It’s important to remember the true message of Christmas is about HOPE. Hope is the most crucial element in life. It turns dreams into reality, maximizes talent, rebuilds marriages, strengthens teams, and heals nations. Life without hope is despair. True hope is so remarkable because hope means to have faith or confidence in something that hasn’t happened yet. It is the ability to see what will be. It is the ability to see talent before anyone else does. It’s the ability to believe in peace in the middle of war. It is the ability to work toward your future. Hope is an absolute necessity to become the person you were designed to be.  
 
But hope can be easily shattered when it is put in the wrong place. There is one place where you can put your hope where it cannot be shaken or taken away. The Scriptures say if we put our hope in Jesus, we will never be disappointed.  
 
As a young man, Dad prayed every day that his mom would recover from cancer, but she eventually died from it. He became bitter at God, so bitter he would get into an argument with anyone who even mentioned the name of God. When he met his wife, he saw firsthand the total transformation in her life. He saw how much true peace and joy she had. She had something he didn’t have. He gave God all his bitterness and received courage instead. He gave his life to God and God gave him a better life in return. 
 
I don’t know many of your stories, but I believe God knows your story. He loves you and wants to give you courage, hope, joy, and strength. He does not promise to change your circumstances, but He does promise to transform you and make you the best you can be. He promises to give you hope even in the midst of difficulty. 
 
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13

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