Sunday, December 1

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.” –Jeremiah 23:5-6

Happy December everyone. Is it already the end of 2024? This year has brought many trials and tribulations, and even moments of utter hopelessness.

What is hope? To trust, to cherish a desire with anticipation, to want something to happen or be true, to expect with confidence. As a child, my hope in the month of December came with the anticipation that the toy I saw in a commercial would be under the tree waiting for me. As a teenager, I hoped the popular girls would finally recognize my amazingness and accept me. Then came tragedy and all I could hope for was to make it through the day without anyone noticing the grief that was eating me away. Meeting my wonderful husband brought a new light into my life I never knew existed. I was suddenly finding myself hoping for a large diamond, 2.5 kids, and a white picket fence fantasy. After having three beautiful children, I found my life lacking something. What could it be? I had a great family, fantastic job, and a home to be proud of. It is what people couldn’t see that made me feel like a phony when I looked in the mirror.

One day my husband said, “Let’s go to church this Sunday.” Now I always grew up in a God-fearing home, but as I moved out on my own, I found myself slipping further and further away from our Savior. As we started going to church regularly, it suddenly hit me what was missing, hope. That anticipation of getting to spend eternity in Heaven with my Lord and Savior. Trusting that I will walk those golden roads side by side with loved ones once again.

So, this December put your hope in Jesus. Trust your Lord and know that he is good. Give your all to Him and do not allow yourself to get caught up in the hustle of this month. Instead get lost in His word. In a world of uncertainty, we can be hope for one thing, one day our Lord will open the heavens and descend upon us.
 
Julia Dawson