Finding Light in the Darkness

I raise my eyes toward the mountains.

From whence shall come my help?

My help comes from the LORD,

the maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

There are seasons we experience when challenges seem to pile up all at once. Some may have lost loved ones before the holidays, are battling illness, facing conflicts with others, or experiencing exhaustion and overwhelm from work and responsibilities, making it difficult to find light in the situation. It's also challenging to find hope when, through the media, we witness so much violence, hatred, and division happening in the world. How is it possible to see the light when it seems so dark?

The candle that is lit on the First Sunday of Advent represents Hope. What does hope mean for us? Hope is more than having a positive outlook on the future. It is trusting in God’s goodness and faithfulness despite what the circumstances look like or what the future holds. Hope requires deep trust and a relationship with God even through the waiting, uncertainty, and what we cannot visibly see. When we know who God is and understand His character, then we can trust that He will give us a future of hope:

“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11

Each time we feel a sense of hopelessness during any waiting season, remember that we can look to Christ, Our Hope. Hope gives us perseverance, encouragement, and strength to endure all suffering. It raises our hearts and minds to God, in whom we trust for His promise of peace, love, and joy. May we enter this season with expectant hearts, knowing that God is always good, always faithful, and He never fails.