“A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn…”
Through this season I am reminded once again that God is a God of hope. When He sent His Son Jesus to be born in a manger in Bethlehem and to die on a cross on Calvary, He brought salvation and hope to this broken world. For you and for me, we can have restored relationship with the Father through Jesus. And restored relationship with Him gives us access to supernatural hope in our lives.
Maybe there are dreams that we’ve dreamt that haven’t been fulfilled yet, a relationship that is strained and we want to see it restored. We’re waiting for a spouse, a house of our own, a job, healing in our bodies or a long awaited, long prayed for child. In the waiting, I want to encourage you. Keep trusting our good, good God and continue to cultivate hope.
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
Psalm 31:24
But what does hope look like? I love how Graham Cooke puts it:
Hope is expectation, causing us to be confident in our thinking, to have an upgraded trust and faith, and to have the pleasurable anticipation of God regardless of circumstances.
Many years ago, heaven was filled with anticipation as they awaited the birth of the Saviour. With His death the earth shook as the veil was torn. Because of this Saviour who was born and who died for us, we can wait in every moment full of expectation.
In the midst of the Christmas season let’s remind ourselves that through Jesus we have the precious gift of hope. Beyond the presents, the delicious food and family gatherings, the greatest gift we can ever receive is Him. As we continue to wait and continue to trust let our hearts be filled with hope for Him to move in miraculous ways in and through us.
“Fall on your knees, O hear the angels’ voices
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night, O night divine”