And again, Isaiah says,

“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”

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 15:12-13 (NIV)

Hope is a powerful thing.

And it is obvious when hope is missing.


I think that is one of the most important aspects of the advent season. When things seem bleak, the days are getting darker, and the beauty of fall gives way to the dead of winter we are given a reminder that hope is still present and that life will renew.


Obviously I am talking about more than just the weather and the seasons. The Bible tells us that there is nothing new under the sun. Life apart from God’s presence has always been filled with struggles. That was actually part of the punishment given to Adam and Eve. Yet, God never stopped providing for His creation. He never stopped pursuing us. So when we read the words of Isaiah and others who prophesied the coming Messiah we find hope that things can and will change.


And we desperately need that hope.


Jesus arose during a time when followers of God found little joy and were mired in oppression. Nearly 2000 years later and the world still has plenty of oppression and many still lack joy. But in Jesus, we find what we are missing, what we are looking for. He brings a kingdom that is both not yet here but also present within the lives of those who follow Him. He frees our spirits from the oppression of sin which frees us to find joy and peace in the midst of trying circumstances.


Our lives are meant to overflow with that hope so that the world around us might also discover the joy and peace of Christ. This holiday season, this time of advent, may we live lives that are the bringers of that joy and peace. May we be the advent, the foretaste, of a kingdom that is so much greater than what the world is experiencing.


We are surrounded by enough voices telling us that there is little or no hope.

Let Jesus, through the Holy Spirit’s presence in us, demonstrate how wrong those voices are.

Father,

We thank you for the gift of not just your Son who brings us hope but also for the gift of your Spirit who enables us to live in that hope. Father, we know that this world all too often lacks joy, peace, and hope. Please use us to be deliverers of the good news, of hope, to the world around us. Open our eyes to how you are at work around us and give us the love and wisdom needed to join you in that work. May hearts be changed by the hope we have found in your son Jesus. Thank you for that hope that leads us to trust in you each day.

Amen.