Hope
O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows. He himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin. Psalm 130:7,8
Growing up, Advent was a season filled with wonder and expectation. Every morning from December 1-24, as soon as I woke up, I thought about how many days it was until Christmas. Which to my way of thinking was the best day of the year ~ baby Jesus was coming, and so were my presents. If wishing could have made it so, it would have come more quickly!
Our Advent journey began with lighting the candle that signifies hope. It took a long time for me to appreciate the difference between child-like wishing and the hope that God has always offered His people.
For years I have reread parts of A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson, which I have found very helpful. About hope Peterson wrote:
“Hoping does not mean doing nothing. It is not fatalistic resignation. It means going about our assigned tasks, confident that God will provide the meaning and conclusions…And hoping is not dreaming. It is not spinning an illusion or fantasy to protect us from our boredom or our pain. It means a confident, alert expectation that God will do what he said he will do. It is imagination put in the harness of faith. It is a willingness to let God do it his way and in his time.” (pg. 144)
As we prepare and wait to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, may God fill your heart with hope in Him, for Jesus is our Hope!
Father God, the hope in Christ that You give us is a gift of grace and love. We can trust that in You, this Hope will never be disappointed! Amen.