30 Days of Hope: Day 23

My friend Sara has the special gift of looking at life through the lenses of God’s Word—and seeing magic.  So glad she took time to encourage us to have hope as we rest in the  Maker of all creation.  A timely reminder as we anticipate Christmas and the birth of our Savior.

GUEST BLOG: Sara Miller

I catch myself using the word hope a lot. But, I’m not always using it well.  I’m thinking, “I hope I can fit my jam-packed to-do list into today.” Or I’m saying, “I hope my son sleeps through the night.” According to the dictionary, I’ve got it just about right. Merriam-Webster.com says hope is “to want something to happen or be true and think that it could happen or be true.” (Yes to a good night of sleep!)

But isn’t there something more?

The Bible has a lot to say about hope. While enjoying this research on the word hope, I appreciated the reminder that “in the Old Testament hope is linked with ‘putting confidence in’ or ‘taking refuge in.’” It certainly is wanting something to happen and believing it can be true, but it’s also believing in the power of the One who created it all. I love this – “Hope is the proper response to the promises of God.”

I’m not just believing (hoping) that something can happen. I’m believing IN the One who can actually make it happen. What a relief! I don’t have to will myself into believing I can make something work, but instead can rest (take refuge) in the Maker of everything, all of creation, including me.

It seems to be no accident that this 30 Days of Hope series collides with Advent. As Christians we celebrate advent with hopeful anticipation of the birth of our Savior. We spent these days and weeks leading up to Christmas by preparing our hearts for the gift we are about to receive. I can’t help but think of what we sing in O Holy Night … “the thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”

The thrill of hope. The reminder that we love a good, good God who keeps His promises. The anticipation of the birth of a Savior, a birth that changes everything. I hope and pray that you (and I) will be able to experience the fullness of the love of Christ during this Christmas season and that we remember the real source of our hope.