Most people have dreams and aspirations, for ourselves and for our loved ones. But do we all have hope?
Our dreams and aspirations change over the years and at different stages within our lives. We know that our dreams may come true or they may not. Sometimes we fulfil our dreams and at other times our dreams remain just that.
But hope is something totally different. The English dictionary says that “Hope is a feeling that what is wanted will happen”. But in my experience what is ‘wanted’ and what is ‘needed’ are often two different things. We may want all the money in the world, but do we need it?
We live in a materialistic world, where images of things ‘we need’ are paraded in front of us every day, not least in the build up to Christmas, by the media through our TV’s, but also on billboards and in shops, which often places pressure on us financially and otherwise.
I’m guilty as charged and over the years have arrived at Christmas being too exhausted by the preparations to fully enjoy and celebrate it, and at these times verses like those in Isaiah are needed to remind us.
“Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint”. Isaiah 40:31
We all need to stop and turn to our Father for him to lead us. Only our Father can teach us true HOPE. Our Father who gave us His Son, so that we could have hope – hope of a future where our sins have been forgiven even before we have sinned.
Advent is a time when we are acutely aware of how much God has given us in the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ. Through His Son he has given us hope for a future where material things become insignificant, where we don’t feel under pressure to have what we don’t need or can afford. A future where earthly belongings are not wanted or needed. Hope where all our needs are met and far more than we can even imagine.
As we journey through advent, and we are struggling to do everything that we feel we need to do and are considering going into debt to meet our obligations, STOP, turn to God, take a reality check, and ask yourself why you are doing it. We mustn’t forget that our reward is not in this life, but in the next.
“So, if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”. Colossians 3:1-2
If you haven’t hope in your heart this advent, and you haven’t turned to God for help, what is stopping you?
Our Father
We come to you searching for hope,
Hope of a future where the true meaning of this season is the priority in everyone’s hearts.
Where we only take what we need, and where we turn to you to meet our needs.
Help us to continue to hope for a world where we can live within our means,
And where you are the centre of our universe.
Thank you Father.
Amen.
Kathy Shaw