A Message of Hope

The Light Shines in the Darkness, and the Darkness did not overcome it. - John 1:5

As we enter into the Advent season, I’ve been thinking a lot about hope.  I’ve always thought of hope as a next door neighbor to joy - upbeat, uplifting, filling us up and lifting our hearts.  I have thought of hope as that feeling of eager anticipation that we often associate with the time leading up to Christmas.  And in the midst of the many, loud voices shouting hatred, anger, and fear in our news and in our world, I have been struggling to find that upbeat, uplifting message.  Instead I find myself feeling anxious and worn down by worry.  Wondering where to find a message of hope to share.

But there is a reason that we celebrate Advent during the darkest time of the year.  Because hope is not something that we only have when things feel shiny and bright.  In fact, the Advent wreath is a yearly reminder that, like a candle, hope is most powerful in the midst of darkness.  Hope is what we cling to when things feel terrible.  It’s what we look to in order to keep going, keep moving forward towards a day that is better.  A day when we once again feel joy and enthusiasm.  Hope is the glimmer…that sputtering, flickering candle that continues to glow - however weakly - in the darkness.

As Christians, we are a people of hope in every season.  We believe in the promise of new life that Jesus brought into the world - new life that spread love in the midst of political oppression, that brought bread to crowds of hungry people, and that turned the grief and heartbreak of good Friday into joyful celebration on Easter Sunday.  The hope of Advent isn’t just about warm-fuzzy feelings of goodwill, it is about the promise that darkness will not overcome us.  When we are heartbroken and grieving, when we are stressed and struggling, when we are scared and lonely, we are able to look at the candles on the wreath and sing “O Come, O Come Emmanuel…”  We are able to pray that prayer of longing and HOPE, trusting in God to break into our hearts and into our world; trusting in God to bring new life to the places that feel like death; trusting in God to carry us through whatever struggles we are going through - to dry our tears, and turn our sighs of sorrow into laughter.

I am grateful for this season of Advent - for time to intentionally turn my focus towards hope.  I encourage you to find Advent practices that help you to do just that.  As for me, I will light a candle on the wreath and remember the light of Christ in my life and in the world.  I will sing “O Come, O Come Emmanuel…” and “Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah…” as both a prayer of supplication and a reminder of where my hope is found.  I will watch as the light grows brighter each week and trust in the one who was, who is, and who is to come.  Amen