Finding Hope in the Lord During Times of Waiting
Advent: Week 1
I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait,
And in His word do I hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
More than the watchmen for the morning;
Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the LORD;
For with the LORD there is lovingkindness,
And with Him is abundant redemption. – Psalm 130:5-7
Advent is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, who is Emmanuel—God with us (Matthew 1:23). He was born as a vulnerable baby to a young woman in a delicate cultural context.
The mission of Stand For Life is to help the Church embrace a more active and holistic life ethic. We cherish the Advent season as a celebration of the Word made flesh, who dwelt among us (John 1:14). Jesus is the fountain of life (Psalm 36:9) and the source of all life (John 14:6).
Our theme for this first week of Advent is hope. It is a hope that defies the odds without ignoring them. If everything were as it should be, hope would not be necessary. One day, we will no longer need hope when our faith becomes sight. But for now, we must hold onto hope, keeping our lamps lit as we watch and wait, trusting in God alone (Matthew 25).
Our hope is grounded in faith, anchored in the conviction and assurance that only God can provide (Hebrews 11:1). God faithfully brings us hope through faith as we remember how He has drawn near to us in the past, how He is near to us now, and how He will come near again in the future.
We must advocate for and affirm the inherent dignity of every human being, as too often this dignity is overlooked. The need around us can be overwhelming and leave us feeling hopeless, which is why it is essential to cling to hope and allow the God of hope to embrace us (Romans 15:13).
Church, His nearness gives us hope! The fact that God is with us during this Advent season inspires us to advocate for the dignity of every person made in His image. We will not be consumed by despair; instead, we will see the goodness of God in the land of the living and become agents of that life here and now (Psalm 27:13). We will continue to work even as we wait!
