HOPE- Advent Week 1

HOPE.

Week 1 of Advent.


Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

What are you hoping for?

A new phone?
New clothes?
A nap?
The kids to outgrow tantrums?
Your spouse to pay attention for once?
A new car?
A job?
Healing?
Companionship?
Relief from pain or grief?
A child?
Another moment with a loved one who is gone?

Y’all, I know we are all hoping for things to get better. We are hoping that someday we can all gather again, have parties again, go to a store or a gathering without a mask, to visit our kids’ schools, loved ones when they are in the hospital. The times we are living through ARE NOT EASY.

Everywhere we look things seem completely hopeless. The economy, the white house, the local government, vacancies within companies, people taking extra shifts for those who are out sick. Our teachers are tired, healthcare workers are exhausted, families are torn apart, people are losing loved ones, the unknowns of the days ahead are daunting.

So where is this HOPE we speak of? Where is the good in any of this?

You know what I am going to say next.

Jesus.

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

There is not much we can do right now to fix anything. We are going to have to endure. What we will never have to do is, endure alone. There is never a moment, in Christ, where he leaves you. He hasn’t left your loved ones. He hasn’t left you. He hasn’t dismissed your pain or your hardship. He is right there in the middle of it all. He is holding you, strengthening you and helping you, right now. He is powerful. He is full of compassion and grace for you, right where you are. The HOPE we experience during Advent is that we anticipate that Christ came down to us, Emmanuel, as a baby. He came to live so that he could die for us all. If he had never come down to this earth to be the hope of all mankind, we would be doomed to hell, we would have to endure the pain and hollowness of a life without him. Thankfully, we do not have to do that. We are given an opportunity to live this life, even in its hardship, with an everlasting hope. His promise of returning again is what we now look forward to. As we live this life, in the here and now struggles of Covid, pain and uncertainty, we have the hope of eternal life. No matter what we endure here, we can be sure that our eternal home is our reward.


No matter the situation you find yourself in today, the only certain hope is Jesus. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, a broken down car or a struggling marriage, he is the remedy. He is the cure. He is where new life, hope, healing and redemption come from.
I am praying for you all; that you might know Christ’s nearness. I pray that you feel His presence in your midst. I pray that the Prince of Peace would surround you in these days. I pray that you would talk to the Wonderful Counselor (at no charge you to;) ) Tell him of all your needs, your heartache and desires. I pray that you would take courage in the Mighty God of the universe that loves you so. I pray that you would lean on the arms of the Everlasting Father. He is secure and He is good.

As Lysa T always says, “God is good. God is God and he is good at being God.”

This season, whether spirited and jolly or heavy and burdened, Christ has come. Christ has risen. Christ will come again. And for that reason, WE HAVE HOPE.

May our worship be our trust,
Shaina
Worship Pastor