There is a scene in the movie Mr. Deeds, where Deeds, as he is referred to in the movie, is making a passionate appeal to the stockholders of his deceased uncles company.  He is pleading with them not to vote to dissolve his uncle’s company.  He is asking them to vote No by challenging them to remember their childhood dreams.  To remember what they wanted to be when they grew up.

One particular man stood up and said, “I wanted to be a veterinarian.”  Deeds then asked him, “What is it that you do now?”  The gentlemen answered, “I own a chain of slaughter houses.”  For some reason this man’s childhood dreams changed from caring for animals to butchering animals.  What happened to change his course?

What about you?  Is your life everything you envisioned it would be?  Did you become your childhood dream?  Did your dream change, as you got older? Did circumstances force you to change your dreams?  Did something happen in your life that drastically changed the direction of your life?  Were you a victim of circumstances or a victim of making wrong decisions?

Are you disappointed with your life?  Are you overjoyed with your life?

When the prophet Isaiah spoke these words to the people of Israel life was anything but comfortable for them. There was unrest. Armies and nations clashed. People suffered from wars, abuse and oppression. Truth and wisdom were trampled under the horses and chariots of those in power. There was no end in sight. As a matter of fact the Israelite’s troubles would continue for another 100 years. Those 100 years would be followed by the destruction and fall of Jerusalem. Followed by 70 years of exile.

Certainly not what they envisioned or anyone would envision for God’s chosen people. I suppose if you would envision anything for God’s chosen people, you would envision a life free of suffering and liberated from injustice. A life blessed with peace, love and joy the very things we wish one another at this time of year.

However we don’t always get what we wish for, do we? Which means we must take serious God’s word,

“In the desert prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight in the wilderness a highway for God.
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed.”

The desert represents a place of trials and suffering.  Truth is we all have deserts in our lives.  We are not immune.  But the good news is that seeds of comfort take root in the soil of adversity.  You may not escape adversity, but you may find God’s comfort as you face it.

Where do we begin to find comfort?  We must find our comfort in our preparations for the coming of our Messiah as well as in the presence of the Messiah.

If we don’t enjoy the process of getting ready, we won’t enjoy the event we are getting ready for.  If we become so consumed by getting Christmas right – the right present, the right cards mailed to right people, the right dishes for Christmas – we risk missing the surprising ways that God prepares us in this season.

Life, like our Christmas preparations, will not go smoothly all the time.  There will be twists and turns.  There will be disappointments and trials.  There will be detours and sudden changes.  Discover the comfort of God in those valleys and in those rough and rugged places.  Discover the comfort and joy of God’s presence in your preparations.

How can you take comfort?

You and I can take comfort in that the sovereign Lord is birth we celebrate; whose birth we are preparing for is like a shepherd.

“See the Sovereign Lord comes with power
and His arm rules for Him…
He tends His flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in His arms
and carries them close to His heart;
He gently leads those that have young.”

Whether you are in the valley of your life or the rough place or the rugged placed or on the mountain, you have a God, a shepherd to comfort you.  You have a God, a shepherd who will pick you up and hold you near his heart.  You have a God who will comfort you.