- Thanks susan! As we were putting up our Christmas lights and they shone so brightly in the dark it reminded me that we are rescued from the darkness and transferred to the kingdom of light! Hallelujah!
- Lasting Hope came on Christmas Day. His Presence is all we need. It's available and free if you ask and believe. Thank you for this encouragement
Hope
Hope
During this season of Advent our church lights one candle every Sunday and one center candle that is the Christ’s candle on Christmas Eve. Each candle has a meaning and our first candle this season is Hope. The following three weeks of advent we will light the peace, joy and love candles.
“Our world today so desperately hungers for hope, yet uncounted people have almost given up. There is despair and hopelessness on every hand. Let us be faithful in proclaiming the hope that is in Jesus.” -Billy Graham
A dear couple of friends of mine prayed this week for hope to come via a doctor’s appointment. Unfortunately hope was not given. Hope is not something that is easily wrapped up in a package and given to someone. However, I wish I could do that for this couple. I had hope that someone could take the pain away. Living in daily pain is a horrible distraction from living life to the fullest. What can I do to bring hope to my friends?
Isaiah 40:31 - But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Sometimes the word hope here is substituted as “wait”. Hope is waiting isn’t it? It’s in the definition of hope: A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
What do I tell them that will bring hope?
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Prayer always helps in a time of waiting. I will continue to pray for them and the wisdom of doctors to help them. I will pray that they will have hope for a new solution.
Romans 8:24-25 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Waiting for it with patience?! How could I ever tell my sweet friends to do that? However, that is also the definition of hope isn’t it? We wait patiently for the Lord to return. We hope for His second coming! We have hope because he promises a resurrection and eternal life. We wait for that day to come and look forward to it!
Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Of course that is the answer: endure and be encouraged through scripture. To be covered in scripture is a beautiful thing. Prayed over with scripture and enjoying scripture in worship songs and hymns of praise. I know my friends know Jesus and they never give up hope. This struggle is big but I am reassured they know God is bigger than this struggle.
Psalm 71:14 But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.
Do you have hope this Christmas season? Let us know with a comment below or a message to the Women’s Ministry Team if you need an encouraging word from scripture or someone to pray for you. I HOPE for each of you to be blessed with hope this Christmas season. If you feel blessed with hope this season, please share an encouraging word in the comments to spread hope to all those who read this blog.
By Susan Herold-Women’s Ministry