Finding Hope in the Unexpected

Christmas stories are everywhere. We have our family stories and the true accounts of Christmas from the Bible, but there are also amazing historical accounts. One of my favorites is the story behind the Christmas carol, “Silent Night,” because it’s a powerful reminder how God can show up in a powerful, unexpected way.

As the story goes, it was Christmas Eve, 1918, at St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria. The organ broke down. The repairman couldn’t get there in time for midnight mass, so the priest, Joseph Mohr, and the organist, Franz Gruber, had a problem. What started as a complete train wreck led to a beautiful solution. Mohr gave Gruber lyrics he’d written two years earlier, and Gruber composed a melody for them right there on his guitar.

That simple melody, born out of a technical failure, began to spread. It traveled across the world and, today, “Silent Night” is sung in over 300 languages and is the world’s most recorded Christmas song.

What was a moment of what looked like total failure was transformed into something truly beautiful and enduring because God always has a plan!

Listen to this verse from Psalm 28:7…

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” (Psalm 28:7, NIV) 

This story reminds me that even when things seem to be falling apart, God is at work. Our lives aren’t always perfectly orchestrated; it feels like the organ is broken. But in those moments, God inspires us to create something new. He can take what’s broken and make it a masterpiece that brings joy to the world.

Let’s pray together:

Dear God, when my plans fall apart and my life feels like a broken-down organ, help me to remember the story of “Silent Night.” Show me how You can use my challenges to create something new and beautiful. Give me the strength and trust to rely on You, even when the path ahead is unclear. Amen.

Never forget my friend…

You are a miracle!