Today we’re kicking off our Advent series with a focus on hope. December fills up fast with activities, expectations, and pressure for a picture-perfect holiday, making it easy to place our hope in circumstances, schedules, and our spouses. But what do we do when Christmas doesn’t go as planned?

In this episode, Karen invites us to ask a powerful question: Where am I placing my hope this Christmas? If you’re craving a calmer, more Christ-centered Christmas, this conversation will help you anchor your hope in Him alone.

(Psst! If you’re listening with littles, you may want to skip to 3:30, we talk about Santa early on.)

Episode Recap:

• Karen and Emily talk Santa and gift purchasing (1:45)
• What is one thing about Christmas you love & one thing you could do without? (4:15)
• Karen went on an advent deep dive this year (7:59)
• Everyone can use more hope (12:27)
• There’s a lot of grief and sadness at the holidays (14:50)
• Emmanuel means ‘God with Us’ (16:52)
• Our hope cannot be in our circumstances (18:02)
• Where are you placing your hope right now? (19:07)

Scripture: Micah 7:7 (NIV) 
“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”

Discussion Questions: 

1. Where are you most tempted to place your hope: your spouse, finances, health, kids’ behavior, or a “perfect” holiday?
2. Have you ever walked through a Christmas marked by grief, disappointment, or loneliness? How did God meet you there (or how are you asking Him to now)?
3. What would it look like, practically, to shift your hope from circumstances to Christ this month?
4. How can you help your kids see Christmas as a season of hope in Jesus, not just presents and activities?

Resources:

• Give today to help us reach more moms with Wire Talk in 2026! boaw.mom/give
• Reach out to https://birdsonawiremoms.com/book-karen-to-speak to have Karen come speak in your community!
• Join our private FB group, BOAW Moms: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BOAWmoms