-Betty Fudge, 2018

The Bible is filled with scripture about hope. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a future.” Wow! Infinite, YAHWEH God, creator of the universe, loves us so much he made PLANS to give us HOPE. That gives me chills.

Having hope is a good thing, and God knows how badly we need to feel hope in our lives. The challenge with being hopeful is how situational it can, at times, feel.

When life is going well, it is easy to be hopeful. When crisis enters the scene, those dark clouds of uncertainty can make hope evaporate. Circumstances can make hope feel very difficult at times, but as I have been reading scriptures about hope, I am continually learning how God helps us experience the kind of hope that will surpass our understanding. God’s hope is eternal, not driven by our circumstances, and will never disappoint us.

Advent is the ideal season to reflect on God’s plans to give us abundant, eternal hope. He came to dwell with us, redeem us, teach us. He remains with us now through the Holy Spirit, and he promises never to leave us. One of my favorite Christmas songs, O Holy Night, describes the scene:

“Long lay the world in sin and error pining Till He appeared, and the soul felt its worth.”

And then the description of this eternal hope:

“A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”

The THRILL of hope! The eternal hope that God gives is a gift to us this Christmas.

The abundance of this hope is described in Romans 15:13. 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.