Spiritual Growth

Week Four: Christ Comes in Our Darkest Hour

Advent Meditations from Billy Graham

December 1, 2012 - Are in the middle of your darkest hour? Billy Graham's fourth Advent meditation focuses on the light of Christ.

Week Four: Christ Comes in Our Darkest Hour

Week Four: Read Luke 2:11, 13–14

The greatest sermon ever preached was delivered by angels on this historic night. It has always been interesting to me that this message was delivered at night. It wasn’t night because the sun had gone down. It was night because the world was surrounded in spiritual and moral gloom.

People were driven by greed, intolerance, and lust for power. Religion had become a device for the rich in the exploitation of the poor. Men robbed and swindled and profiteered under the cloak of religion; they even fought wars in the name of religion. In every arena of life, it was night when Jesus came.

Things haven’t changed. Today, there seems to be a moral night that has settled over our world—sexual immorality, pleasure-mad people, lusting for money and power—the same as it was in the days when Jesus came 2,000 years ago.

It is in the darkest hour that Christ often comes. He brings the joy, the thrill, the peace, and the glory such as you have never known—when you and your loved ones give your lives to Him.

How has Jesus shown Himself to you in your darkest hour?

Read the Meditation for Week Three »

Read the Meditation for Week Two »

Read the Meditation for Week One »

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13 Comments

kristy lea says 5.18.2013, 8:46 p.m.

i pray for more faith and wisdom to raise my kids up right before the lord. i pray for to be a better person in christ n to be more like him.

Annie says 12.25.2012, 07:28 a.m.

My Redeemer,.....My Rescuer,.....My Savior,.....You have brought up my soul from the grave. You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. You took my wilderness and made into a streams of waters to QUENCH THE THIRST. A MILLION THANKS!

Linda says 12.24.2011, 8:56 p.m.

To Natasha-We have seen amazing healing over the 35 years I've ministered. Please focus on I Peter 2:24 as you pray for your husband. Mark 11:23 = BELIEVE and you shall receive. God is still on the throne. God bless you.

Danny says 12.20.2011, 6:58 p.m.

In this time I believe we must stand together as a family and trust in the lord and pray for the poor and lonely, don't just pass them on the street stop and let them know that they are loved, show them the love of the lord that Jesus Showed you

Larry in Chicagoland Illinois says 12.18.2011, 11:27 p.m.

I have been going through terribly dark, dark times. Hard times, sickness in my family, sickness myself, even more. Hopeless tonight I prayed to Jesus and a voice said "all else is sinking ground."I saw three lights .. "THE SOLID ROCK" is Jesus.

Glen says 12.18.2011, 4:04 p.m.

God looked down and had mercy that first Christmas night. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich. 2nd Corinthians 8:9

Annie says 12.18.2011, 1:27 p.m.

My sister Mary Vasantha and her family always been with the Lord Jesus, but bit now it seems her and her family is straying from that path. Would you please pray for my sister and her family that they might return to the LORD. Thank you, Amen!

Natasha says 12.18.2011, 10:39 a.m.

This meditation helped me because my husband has just been diagnosed with prostate cancer, right before Christmas; it is a dark hour indeed. However, we are both believers, and I am holding onto Psalm 23.

Annie says 12.17.2011, 2:53 p.m.

My loving Heavenly Father, As I became Your child, through Jesus Christ, You will never leave me alone, to cope with fear and trouble. I HAVE NO NEED TO WORRY....., MY JESUS....., YOU ARE....., THERE....., I WILL TRUST IN YOU....., AMEN!!!

Anthony says 4.19.2011, 4:18 p.m.

Its sad how people sin on and on. I wish that there would be peace forever, and satan to die.

Angie says 12.27.2010, 3:51 p.m.

Amen Janice. Even within our own immediate families are the divisions seen clearer than ever. Those with Christ and compassion and those without. Seems we are having to make a choice between God and money.

Tommy says 12.27.2010, 08:57 a.m.

We look at our own time and think sin has grown. Sin in the world and evidence of humankind's fallen condition can be seen throughout history. Imagine the every day fear of being killed because you are a Christian. Every generation of Christians has looked for Jesus' bodily return to rescue them from the of sin of the world around them. I don't want to forget that He already rescued me on the cross. In a very real sense Christ is always coming. I know because not too long ago he was there with me in my darkest hour of despair. Jesus gives me peace, and He is always there whenever I need him.

Janice says 12.20.2010, 12:30 a.m.

In my lifetime, I have never seen the world so ugly with sin. The lust for power, the greed, the lack of compassion for the poor. The willingness to cast stones at people because they are financially poor and out of work. The rich want more than anything to become richer in this world's wealth. I believe Jesus will soon come back. We are so morally corrupt. Satan knows his time is short and he is working feverishly. Janice

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