What is your hope anchored in?
An advent mini series for December
The definition of hope is defined as a feeling of anticipation and desire to want something to happen or be true, a feeling of trust.
But when Scripture speaks of hope, it isn’t fragile or fleeting. It’s not a dream we cling to or an outcome we try to manifest. Hope in God is anchored. Firm. Steady. Certain. Not because of something we can do but who He is.
For most of my twenties, I wrestled with the idea of hope. With only a vague idea of God, my hope was never truly anchored and felt more like wishing on something I couldn’t quite see. No matter how hard I tried. Even when I prayed, I wasn’t confident in the hope of who God was. I viewed God mostly as a distant God who was always upset with me.
There were seasons where I placed my hope in circumstances, outcomes, people and futures I couldn’t control. Recently, I read an article by Our Daily Bread and I loved this analogy, “Hope that is reduced to the level of wishes and dreams can be like soap bubbles that look beautiful to the eye but disappear at the slightest touch.”
It wasn’t until my thirties that I truly began to know Jesus and understand the hope that Advent invites us into. A hope rooted in Christ himself. A hope that strengthens weary bones, lifts tired hearts and steadies our steps.
In chapter 40 verse 28, Isaiah points us to the glory and power of our Creator:
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.”
Although in life we may not understand the circumstances around us, our Creator of heaven and earth does and we can rest in the truth that when we grow weary, He does not.
“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:29-31)
In verse 31, you may notice different translations use the word “hope” instead of “wait.” When I looked this verse up in the Blue Letter Bible, it refers to “wait, look for, hope, expect.” When our hope is anchored in the Lord, our Creator, we can trust that He will keep His promises. It isn’t a hopeful maybe, but a certainty.
Together this advent season, may we not be wishful thinkers but wait expectantly in the Lord. May He renew our strength and let Him be the focus of our hope this Christmas season.
Lately this has been a quiet prayer of my heart,
“Lord, renew my strength and weary soul. Remind me to take courage, for my hope is in You. Renew me, Lord as I expectantly wait for the future You are preparing for me. Nourish me, Oh Lord, and empower me so that I can be prepared to take the next step when Your timing is right. My soul waits for You, Lord, more than watchmen for the morning. Ground me in Your hope, the true hope that is everlasting.”
