Wonder is an interesting word. A simple definition of the word goes something like this: a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable. When we were younger many of us were full of wonder, which is often accompanied by child like faith. At that point in our lives the world had not tainted our minds, we didn’t think we had everything figured out, and we hadn’t been exposed to the Bachelor. But as you and I were growing up we went through a process of what many now call, “adulting.” I am pushing 39 years of age but I still feel “adulting” sucks sometimes. But it’s not that we simply lost sight of wonder, because we found something else to replace it…weariness. Weariness is an enemy of wonder, often keeping us from, “admiring the unexpected.” One thing that I have learned about God is that He often shows up in the unexpected. Stay with me.

Christmas should be a season that is full of wonder because it reminds us of how God showed up in the most unexpected way. But instead of being full of wonder, it often exposes our weariness. So how do we get from weariness back to being full of wonder, or wonder-full? Our answer is found at the cross.

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.” Hebrews 12:3 (NLT)

If you have never studied the torture methods of a Roman crucifixion it would be hard for you to understand what he actually had to endure. But notice how the author of Hebrews encourages us to revisit this very act of torture in our minds and by doing so we can find a way out of weariness. Friends, the cross is our greatest weapon against weariness. In other words we can rejoice in our weariness because there is nothing but joy that awaits us. This may cause you to sing these words with a little more gumption this Christmas:
O Holy Night: “The thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices”

This Christmas and advent season, make sure to celebrate the fact that our Savior came for us and continue to admire this unexpected move from God. But don’t hesitate to revisit the cross…don’t ever hesitate to revisit the cross. And maybe, just maybe, we can get from weariness back to being wonder-full.