Tuesday, December 3

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
…
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Isaiah 9:2-7

The central theme for this first week of Advent is hope. It occurred to me while reading the scripture passage that the Words of God describe a future full of light, prosperity, peace, freedom, and the coming of the Messiah. We certainly know that the Messiah is the answer to that hope but think about the implications in the concept of future. There is no path forward nor any future without hope. After a season of darkness, He promised them light. After the trauma and devastation of war, they would have joy in the harvest and be free from the yoke of the oppressor. Judgement will come but that is not the end of the story for God will send a Savior.

I think about when I have received bad news and how difficult those situations have been. Some have been fleeting and the crisis soon dies down, but others have had lifelong impact. The resounding element in all those situations, though, is hope. Hope motivates us to keep moving forward and to look for meaning or purpose. Hope enables us to believe that things will get better and, with God, we can make it happen. HOPE is more than an emotion. It is a way of thinking that comes through us but originates from outside of ourselves. I believe hope comes from the Lord; belief in the Lord, love of the Lord, and faith in the Lord. Those times when I have turned my hope to Him have been the times when I’ve later looked back and known that it was Him who carried me through.

This Advent season, and as we look forward to 2025, I pray that you will reach for Jesus and come out of the gloom. He will reach back and hold you firmly in His arms.

Blessings,
Debra Wood