Many people are looking for the Gift of Hope this Christmas.  They may not even realize that this is what they want for Christmas, but Hope is one of the greatest Gifts that God gives us!  The angels gave an incredible message of Hope to the poor shepherds of Bethlehem on a Judean hillside over 2,000 years ago. (Luke 2:8–14)

Now what do we mean when we say that we need hope?

What statements do you typically hear people make that involve hope?

  • I hope it doesn’t rain.
  • I hope I get the job.
  • I hope the world will be at peace.
  • I hope he gets better.
  • I hope she shows up.
  • I hope . . . (you fill in the blank).

Do you notice a theme? Worldly hope is characterized by doubt, uncertainty, and a lack of control. We hope for things that may or may not happen. But in Jesus, hope is a guarantee, a sure thing. Our hope is actually a “know-so” rather than a “maybe-so.”  Hebrews 11:1 tells us that…

“faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

 

Regardless of what outward results look like at any given moment, we can always find hope in the words of Hebrews 6:19…

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

 

While our focus during the Christmas season is naturally on the birth of Jesus and His arrival in our world, the 4 weeks of Advent leading to Christmas is also about the future. Advent is not just about preparing our hearts for Christmas but also about preparing our hearts for when Christ comes again. And you may find that waiting patiently for the second coming of Jesus is even harder than waiting for Christmas. We long for the time when all will be restored and made new. We experience the pain and suffering of today and wait in eager hope for the future. That is where our hope lies: that the baby who was born in a stable in Bethlehem will return again and complete the work of God in our world.

And so we wait, placing our hope in Him for the past, the present, and the future. It’s the bigger picture of our faith and of God’s plans for our world. The apostle Paul explained in Romans 8:24–25…

“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” .

 

It’s hard to be patient. It’s hard to wait. But I encourage you to lean in and unwrap the gift of hope today. This is Advent—a season of preparation, waiting, expectation. There is value as well as excitement in patient and expectant waiting. May this be a season of wonder as you discover the gifts Jesus offers to you this Christmas: hope, love, joy, and peace.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)