10. Advent of Hope
10. Advent of Hope
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light…
On those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” [Isaiah 9:2]
Do you know what it is like to be walking and living in deep darkness? Have you ever had a season where you felt like you were trapped, stuck, afraid and alone? Maybe when walking through divorce, death, poverty, depression, fear, sickness or, worst of all, hopelessness? Do you struggle to understand why God seems to be allowing it to happen?
Darkness grates against our souls. However, it is those who know darkness who will see the light.
But the light shines in the darkness. That light represents hope and hope is what anchors our souls in the storms of life. Hope is not wishful or juvenile thinking but confident expectation of God’s faithfulness which is rooted in truth. And that Truth became flesh and dwelt among us:
”For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders. And his name shall be called; Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”. [Isaiah 9:8]
“And they will call him Immanuel, which means “God with us.” [Matthew 1:23]
The Christmas story, the story of Jesus’s birth, is a story of hope. It was a prophetic hope in the Old Testament, which became a manifest hope of reality in the gospel stories of a child that was born of the Glory of God. Which has now become a future hope that we depend on in all circumstances, and that hope will not fail us.
“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.”[Romans 8:24-25]
Is our hope found in the “child born…the son given”? Is he our “Prince of Peace” and our “Wonderful Counselor”? What are you hoping for in this season? Whatever it is, may the light break forth in the darkness of your life and may you rejoice as Mary the mother of Jesus did when the angles brought her good news about a future hope of a savior to be born through her.
Scripture Reference:
Luke 1:46-55
“And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.””
Discussion Questions:
- What does the name for Jesus, Immanuel, God with us, have to do with hope?
- What are you hoping for now that you haven’t received yet?
- How can you, like Mary, begin rejoicing in hope?
- Do we hope for a thing or is our hope in Jesus? How do we respond when we don’t get the thing we’re hoping for?
Assignment:
Take a moment to read Luke 1:46-55 and journal through the STAR method below. Pay attention to how Mary rejoiced in something she was hoping for and how this applies or should apply to your life.
STAR
S – Scripture Read: Read the Scripture
T – Thought Conveyed: What is it saying to you?
A – Application Made: How do you apply this scripture to your life?
R – Response Given: Respond back to God with a prayer