Hope

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses and trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they look not to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek and consult the Lord! Isaiah 31: 1

There's been a lot of talk this year about hope, more often the lack of it. The political climate in our country bred a spirit of hopelessness.

Looks like it's not just a recent problem. Any individual, any generation, any country that looks to the supposedly strong and mighty and powerful for hope is eventually going to find that hope is gone.

A familiar phrase I've heard during several of the past elections has been this, "No matter who is in office the day after the election, I know the One who is still on the throne." There, and only there, will one find hope.

During the first week of Advent, I read a lot about this hope we have in Christ. It's all about hoping for something better than we have now. Or simply hoping that there is something better than we have now, politically, culturally, systemically, in our communities, our families, homes, and individual lives.

"We hope that something more beautiful is coming because we must, because the alternative us unbearable. And this work of hope is a muscular work, filled with sorrow, faith, perseverance, and resilience." Michael T. McRay

When we look at the needs in front of us and the pain around us, we lose hope. When we trust people or things to bring change, we lose hope. And when we put one foot in front of the other to make a difference yet don't see a difference, we are tempted to lose hope.

But we don't live as those who have no hope!  We know where to put our hope - in the One who fulfilled the promise of Hope when Jesus came as a baby to bring hope to His people. And the One who promises to fulfill all hope when he returns to make everything right and perfect and just.

And so I pray for your hope and my hope to continue in the new year. Until the day of Jesus' second coming...

"We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 1: 2 - 3