Have you ever seen a bright, shining light be overcome by a greater source? Maybe you’ve noticed this with Christmas lights. If they’re left on during the day, you usually can’t even tell that they’re on. The sun is such a greater source of light that the tiny bulbs we cover our homes with could never match its radiance. Still, they shine so beautifully in the dark.

In Luke 18, we find Jesus warning the disciples that at their next stop—Jerusalem—all the prophecies about Him would come true: He was about to die. The walk there must have been excruciating for Jesus. I cannot imagine knowing when and where I would die and walking there willingly without it weighing heavily on my heart. While Jesus was the Son of God, He still experienced human emotions just like we do (Hebrews 4:15; Isaiah 53:3). And yet, in the middle of this walk, He still stopped to respond to a divine interruption.

It’s Christmas time, and we’ve officially entered the season of giving. Unfortunately, this time of year can also become a season of greed and wanting more if we don’t guard our hearts—even if we’re the parents doing most of the shopping and giving. No matter how tremendous the spread of gifts has been on any Christmas morning, most of us have been guilty of asking, “Is that all?” at least once in our childhood. And while it’s easy to admit we did this as kids, it’s still a trap we can fall into as adults.

Have you ever felt like Jesus forgot you—let you down, or disappointed you? You’re not alone. John, the cousin of Jesus, understood those feelings well. While Jesus was out ministering, healing, and fulfilling the prophecies about the Messiah, John had been arrested and imprisoned for speaking against Herod’s marriage.

Joseph the dreamer has always inspired me. His story isn’t easy, but it shows us that a life of faithfulness to God and His promises is always worth it. I often find myself dreaming about the future—wondering what could be—and holding onto those God-given dreams, believing they too will come to pass.