Christmas is almost here! It’s supposed to be the “most wonderful time of the year.”

But it doesn’t feel wonderful when I listen to the news. I hardly recognize the country I grew up in. Wars, plagues, famines, perversity, racial strife—absolute hatred displayed toward Christians everywhere.

It’s ironic that Psalm 33:10-11 is so reassuring! “The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.” World leaders are not the final authority. God is in control, and he will accomplish his purposes.

The world was not a friendly place for Jesus 2,000 years ago. His mother, Mary, nine months pregnant, had to travel for miles to a different town—Bethlehem—just because the emperor wanted a census done. King Herod was a terror; he killed his wife and sons, along with so many little baby boys! The establishment at that time was not just openly hostile to Christians, it was murderous.

“But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” God worked through all that mess to bring his Son, our Savior, into the world. No matter what chaos is going on in the world, God’s plans prevail. Jesus knows what I’m going through, because he went through it first.