Darkness to Light

We have been talking about Psalms that give us encouragement. Here is one passage:

Psalm 107:10-16 (King James Version)

10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

"Always Winter and Never Christmas" is a quote from C.S. Lewis in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrove, one of his famous books upon which the movie, "The Chronicles of Narnia," is based. (This quote is pointed out by Mel Lawrenz, pastor of Elmbrook Church in Wisconsin.)

It may be winter for us, but it does not have to be winter without Christmas.
Days were dark at the time of Christ's birth.
Days are dark now.
Today is the shortest day of the year.

It will be winter, but the days will get longer.
The weather may be harsh, but the sun will shine.
In the midst of discouragement, there can be hope.
Hope may come to fuition in ways we thought were possible.
It may come about in unexpected ways (just as it did when Jesus came to Earth the first time).

We may experience winter, but we do not have to experience winter without Christmas.