Why Christmas is a time of hope – even after a challenging year

It’s been a year like no other for our world, as so many aspects of life have been hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Who could have predicted a year ago, that we would see the Tokyo Olympics postponed, competitive sport halted, and spectators at football, rugby, cricket, athletics and pretty much every other sport hugely restricted?

The pandemic has claimed many lives, disrupted our work and families, and left us looking for a ‘new normal’ as the struggles continue. Vaccines are beginning to roll out, but ‘normal life’ still looks a long way off.

Yet, during this Christmas season, when followers of Jesus celebrate a message of God’s love for the world he has made, there is hope for better times to come – and the promise of peace, joy and a future full of possibility.

It’s a theme picked up in an interview done earlier this year by Planet Sport Football Africa reporter Oluwashina Okeleji, when he spoke to Yaw Yeboah, one of Ghana’s most promising young footballers, currently playing for Polish top-flight side Wisla Krakow. In his promising career so far, he has captained Ghana’s Under 23 side in the African Cup of Nations in Egypt, and played in the U20 World Cup in New Zealand.

With a stop-start year in football, it has been a time when Yaw – like all of us – has had to take stock and measure his response to challenging times, particularly in lockdown. As a committed follower of Jesus Christ, he is clear on the part his faith plays in how he has responded to the situation.

“I’m a Christian and I believe in God – I believe that whatever is happening in this world, God is in control. God knows exactly what he’s doing … there’s a lesson for us to appreciate everything that we have on this earth, and that our God created everything for a reason, and that God loves everything that he created. The world is going to change … how people are going to treat each other … so you have to appreciate the people in your life, appreciate your family and your friends, and the most important thing is that you have to appreciate life. We will come back strong.”

It’s often said that professional footballers have a privileged position, and something of a responsibility to put something back into their communities, and Yaw certainly echoes that in his advice to fellow players: “In Africa you’re seeing players like Sadio Mane donating money to help a community – and this is love … if somebody is in need and you are in a position to help the person, just do it. Because you never know tomorrow, only God knows – only the Creator knows.”

As we celebrate a Christmas that is very different to any most of us have experienced before, we can choose to trust a God who sent Jesus to be born in an unlikely place, in very uncertain times, to a family soon forced to flee from a murdering tyrant.

God knew what he was doing. And God knows what he is doing now – as we learn afresh what it is to love and support others in our communities, as we rediscover our neighbours as those we can care for and serve, and as we re-assess what really matters in our lives.

The greatest gift of Christmas is Jesus himself – who brings to a world that has seemed dark and fearful, the promise of light, life and hope for the future.

If you’d like to explore the Christian faith further, you’ll find some helpful links here: www.planetsport.tv/finding-faith