Let’s believe again—in God, in ourselves, and in one another
IT’S Christmas—the time of year when people smile more, greet each other with warmth, and somehow manage to be a little kinder. Streets light up. Families reunite. Churches overflow. And even the grumpiest among us find it hard not to hum along to a carol or two.
But here’s the irony.
In a country known for having the longest Christmas celebration in the world, it feels like goodness is in short supply.
This year has been one of the most challenging we’ve seen in a while. Looking back, so much of it was just noise. Anger. Outrage. Fear. Fake news, broken trust, hurtful words thrown like stones across digital spaces.
It was a year full of doubts and disappointments—a year when many of us questioned if we were even headed in the right direction.
But then comes Christmas.
A season that interrupts the noise with a whisper. A light shining in the middle of all this darkness. A child, born in a manger. God becoming man.
Every time I’m invited to speak—whether at a youth gathering, a leadership conference, or a school program—I almost always return to one favorite message. It’s simple. But not easy.
Three lessons I’ve learned, and try to live by: First, believe in a good God. Second, believe that you are good. Third, believe that others too are capable of doing good.
First, believe in a good God.
This is foundational. Because when everything around us seems broken, when life feels unfair, and when good people suffer while the corrupt thrive—it’s tempting to give in to bitterness or disbelief.
But Christmas invites us to see differently. God did not remain distant. He did not stay up in the heavens waiting for us to get our act together. He came down. Took on flesh. Chose a manger instead of a palace. That tells me something: God is not just good. He is with us. And if He is with us, then we are not alone in our struggles, in our doubts, or even in our failures. He walks with us. And that’s enough to keep going.
Second, believe that you are good.
This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about recognizing that we were created with purpose, with value, with something to give.
We all make mistakes. We all carry shame. But goodness is not the absence of flaws—it’s the decision to rise again.
It’s found in the quiet choices: being honest when it’s easier to lie, showing up when we’d rather quit, choosing to love even when it hurts.
There’s a lot of pressure to be impressive these days. But I think what matters more is being genuinely good. Even if no one sees it. Especially when no one sees it.
And third, believe that others too are capable of doing good.
This one’s hard. Especially after a year like this. When you’ve been betrayed, disappointed, or let down—it’s easier to close your heart. To assume the worst. To expect the next person to fail you, too.
But here’s the truth:
If we stop believing in the goodness of others, we’ll stop building bridges.
And when that happens, all we’re left with are walls.
Christmas is a reminder that people can surprise us. Change us. Heal us. Just as God believed in us enough to become one of us—we are also called to believe that others, even those we disagree with, have goodness inside them too.
Of course, these lessons are not easy.
To believe in a good God when things go wrong.
To believe in our own goodness when we’re riddled with doubt.
To believe in others when we’ve been hurt.
That’s why we persevere.
As Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
We keep choosing goodness—not because it’s easy or popular—but because the world desperately needs it.
So maybe this Christmas, we can reflect a little deeper. In the middle of the food, gifts, and laughter—let’s remember what this season truly celebrates.
That a good God chose to be born as one of us.
That He entered our mess, not to condemn it, but to redeem it.
That in a world full of darkness, He chose to be light.
And now, it’s our turn.
Let’s be that light. Let’s believe again—in God, in ourselves, and in one another.
Merry Christmas. And may we never get tired of doing good.
