There’s something magical about taking the kids to a Christmas tree farm every year.
The smell of pine.
The hunt for the “perfect” tree.
The family debate about which one is too tall, too skinny, or too lopsided.

And of course—after all that effort—we cut the perfect tree down, drag it home, set it up in the living room… and watch it slowly die.

The irony hits me every year:

We bring an evergreen inside only to watch it turn brown.

Yet the whole reason the evergreen became a Christmas symbol is because—unlike other trees—it never browns. It stays green in harsh winters. It thrives when everything else is bare. Its strength is not in its environment… but in its roots.

And honestly? That’s a picture many of us need this time of year.

Because while the world is singing “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” our hearts don’t always agree.

For many people, the holidays stir up grief, loneliness, pressure, depression, or memories they wish they could forget. Some are struggling with burdens nobody else sees. Some are asking quiet questions nobody else hears.

This is why we are launching a series called EVERGREEN — A Faith That Thrives in Every Season.

Because God never promised us a life without harsh winters… but He did promise we could remain alive, rooted, and green through them.

“Blessed are those who trust in the LORD… They are like trees planted along a riverbank…
Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”
—Jeremiah 17:7–8

This isn’t naïve optimism.
It’s real hope.
And it’s the kind of hope woven into the Christmas story itself.

When the Stars Go Out

Most of us know about the Wise Men—the Magi who followed a star from the East to find Jesus.
But we often miss something important:

They started the journey with a star… but at some point on the road, the star disappeared.

Think about that.
These men traveled 900+ miles on camel, across deserts and mountains, guided by a heavenly sign…and then the light went out.

No GPS.
No roadmap.
No star.

Just questions.

Maybe you’ve been there too.

You had clarity, then life shifted.
You had momentum, then the future flatlined.
You were following what God showed you… and suddenly you don’t know what to do next.

I’ve lived that.

After seven years in a ministry I planned to give my life to, everything fell apart. The chapter closed. Relationships broke. I walked away with more questions than answers. Jocelyn and I felt lost—unsure of what God was doing or where He wanted us next.

But what we discovered is what the Wise Men discovered:

Uncertainty is not the absence of God.

Uncertainty is an invitation to trust God's character.

Even when the stars go out.

Three Ways to Walk Through Starless Seasons

1. Walk on What God Showed You Last

When the star vanished, the Wise Men didn’t quit.
They didn’t turn around.
They kept moving in the last direction God had given.

Sometimes the faith you need today comes from what God showed you yesterday.

He hasn’t abandoned your calling.
He hasn’t walked away from what He started in you.
When clarity is low, faithfulness becomes everything.

Faithfulness is what carries you through the fog.

2. Don’t Walk Through Uncertainty Alone

When the Magi reached Jerusalem, they asked for help.
Herod consulted the scribes, who consulted Scripture.
And Scripture pointed them to Bethlehem.

Even Wise Men needed wise counsel.

When you don’t know what to do, isolation is the enemy.

This is why community matters.
This is why groups matter.

And this is why Scripture matters—because God will often confirm what you can’t see through the people and the Word He’s placed in your life.

Sometimes the right people get you farther than the right plan.

3. Clarity Comes in Walking, Not Waiting

Many people say, “Don’t move until you know what to do.”
But honestly? That’s usually fear talking.

Abraham didn’t know where he was going—he just walked.
And as he walked, God revealed what was next.

When Jocelyn and I were still hurting and unsure, people kept asking us to start a church. We weren’t confident… but we were obedient. We bought plane tickets to a church planters conference—not because we had clarity, but because we had a nudge.

And it was in the walking that God brought clarity.
Not before it.

You can’t steer a parked car. God leads people who move.

The God Who Sees You

My favorite part of the Wise Men’s journey is simple:

They lost the star… but God never lost them.

And at the right moment—just as they moved in obedience—the star reappeared.

“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure.”
—Matthew 2:10

Their joy wasn’t because the journey was perfect.
Their joy was because God was faithful.

And that’s the promise for you too.

If You’re in a Starless Season…

Maybe you’re unsure of your next step.
Maybe you’re hurting, confused, or afraid.
Maybe you’re wondering if you made a wrong turn.

Hear this:

You may not see the way forward.
But the One who sees you knows exactly where you are.

Keep walking.

Keep connecting with God’s people.
Keep seeking God in Scripture.
Don’t let a temporary season kill your faith.

Because winter doesn’t have the final word. Roots do.
And God is making you evergreen.

If this spoke to you, share it with someone who may be walking through a starless season of their own. And join us this month as we continue the EVERGREEN series—learning how to thrive in seasons when life feels cold, dark, or uncertain.

There is hope.
There is life.
And God is still leading—whether you see the star or not.