A Thrill of Hope

Written by Elizabeth Marshall on November 22, 2021. Posted in Advent.

A Thrill of Hope

“I really hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.”

“Goodness, I hope I get that toy I wanted for my birthday.”

“I hope I can get some better sleep tonight.”

Hope, it’s a funny word that we all tend to use when we find ourselves wishful thinking. Generally it finds its way into conversations as we discuss events, circumstances, and desires that are just out of our own control. Sure, if we had it our way we know how things would play out but we all know that isn’t how things work in reality most of the time.

A Case for Hope

Hope is a word that is found in the Bible as well. When we consider the concept of Biblical hope it is less about an anticipated outcome and more about intentional waiting.

The word hope is found in the Bible somewhere around 129 times.

In the Old Testament it is seen used by the prophets as they encouraged the Israelites to persevere through isolation, captivity, and rebuilding. Prophets such as Isaiah continually reminded the Israelite people that they had a hope in a coming Messiah( Isaiah 40:31) . The writers of the Old Testament conveyed the understanding of hope not only as a period of waiting for the coming Messiah but of a time of eager, yet patient anticipation as seen through many of the writings (Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 71:14) .

The New Testament brought with it an understanding not of a hope we are anticipating but a living hope (Titus 1:1-2). Christ came and conquered sin and death. The anticipation of the coming Messiah had ended. But then Christ ascended to heaven and left the apostles and the early church to continue sharing the message of the Gospel (Romans 5:5).

A Time of Reflection on Hope

As we move ourselves into this season of Advent the first candle that is lit on the Advent wreath is the one that represents this hope. This season, the time we celebrate the birth of baby Jesus represents an in between time. As Elizabeth and Zachariah prepared for the coming of their own miracle child and Mary and Joseph were preparing for the birth of Jesus, the rest of the Israelite community was still in the season of eager anticipation for the coming Messiah. Little did they know that he was well on his way, that God’s rescue plan was being set into motion. Sure, that eager anticipation would continue as Jesus had to grow and mature and develop into the man he would grow to be, but the bridge between the eager waiting and the living hope was here on Earth in the form of an infant born in less than ideal circumstances.

The first week of Advent is a time for those of us in this time of living hope to look back on that season of eager anticipation and seek to be reminded that our hope, true Biblical hope, isn’t wishful thinking for things or circumstances outside of our control. Christian hope, the hope that we can cling to day in and day out, is a bold hope. It is not a cautious optimism as we bet on the odds but rather it is a triumphant cry as we eagerly wait and watch for humanity and the whole of the universe to be redeemed and rescued from evil and death.

And it is a reminder that for us this is a hope for a future that has yet to be seen but that we know is coming. (Romans 8:24-25) It is a reminder that true perseverance brings stronger hope and a development of Christlikeness (Romans 5:3-4).

So this year, as we enter into the advent season, take some time to reflect on the people and things you have been placing your hope in. Are you placing your hope in people and circumstances beyond your control and just waiting to see if the odds land in your favor? Or are you placing your hope in Christ, knowing that the war has already been won, all we have to do is trust and believe that in His time it will all come together the way He intended it to be?

Prayer

Father, thank you for the hope that you provide. As we rest in the hope you provide, waiting and watching in anticipation for your creation to be fully redeemed give us the strength to continue to boldly proclaim the Gospel of Christ. Help us to share your love and your hope with a lost and dying world this season as we celebrate the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen