Advent is the time that the Church prepares for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Leading up to Christmas, we take the time to focus on the values and promises that can be found in Jesus Christ. This week, we lit the candle of hope.
Hope is an important thing. It helps us during times of difficulty and stress. Hope offers us security that God is there and though we cannot see him, we can feel His presence and love.
We can often confuse the word hope for wishful thinking. If we hope something will happen, we have no control over whether or not it will take place. But the biblical sense of hope is very different. Hope, in the Bible, exists as a secure assurance, a trust placed in a trustworthy God. God will not fail us. We can put our trust in him. Hope waits and endures. It isn’t flimsy or fantasy. It can withstand tragedy, anxiety, and despair. Hope is not merely wishful thinking. It is a promise from God.