Advent is upon us and I will be sharing some archived re:flect-i posts during this year’s season. In 2014 my first post for advent was called “Hopeful”. I would love for you to click on that link and read it [again]. Depending upon your tradition, there are a variety of descriptions for the weeks of advent. Some call the first week “Hope”; others label it “Expectation”. Still others define the weeks by people, calling the first “Isaiah” as he and other prophets predicted the coming of the Messiah. The gist of advent’s first week is looking toward the future King with great hope and expectation.
Because we serve the living God, His Word is alive and active. ‘Hope’ in 2014 meant something entirely different to me than it does this year. I have different expectations; I’m placing great hope that other events will yet take place. But, as much as our lives change from year to year, when new trials arise or different challenges are faced, our hope–our expectation–remains the same in Jesus Christ. There’s a comfort in knowing that His Word is at work in us as we change, while He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
As the prophets looked forward to the coming Savior, so do we. Place all your hopes solidly in Jesus. If you don’t see an answer to your problem, look to Him because He does. If you are struggling to have hope, remember Jesus’ victory on the cross. Because He has gone before us, taken the punishment for our sin and made us acceptable before God Himself, we can now lay hold of the hope that is an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. Doesn’t that sound glorious in the midst of your ‘personal hurricane’ right now?
O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
Love, Wendy
