During the Christmas season, there are a lot of things to hope for. Maybe it’s hoping to spend more time with family or hoping for that shiny new toy you just can’t wait to play with. But there’s one thing you can hope in that will never let you down: Jesus Christ!

The Bible is full of prophecies foretelling the birth of Jesus. Nearly every Old Testament writer, from Moses to Isaiah, writes of the coming Messiah and the hope He will bring to the world. Hundreds of years later, that same hope was finally fulfilled when Jesus was born. Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men were just a few of the first people to hear the wonderous news of Jesus’ birth. Even today, this same hope Jesus brings can still be found all over the world. Take this story from Samuel in Ecuador:

“For a long time I was distant from my peers and relatives. I felt lonely and hopeless, until I watched the JESUS film. Through that film I began to reflect on my own life and look for answers in spirituality. It was then that I came to know God in a personal and profound way. I discovered that my worth was found in God and He loved me unconditionally and had a plan for my life. Now, my life has a purpose and a hope that I have never experienced before.”

The good news of Jesus’ birth is hope that can be shared anywhere and to anyone. It’s okay to hope for family time or a cool new toy this Christmas, but remember that our true hope should be put in Christ Jesus.