Sojourn Carlisle Advent Devotional 2024 - Hope
by Patrick Caley
“When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found.”
Hope is faith looking forward, the anticipation of something better than current circumstances. People often put their hope in certain things, like a degree or a new job. They often put their hope in people, like political leadership. Yet, God is the ultimate authority in life and he alone isthe author of change.
How do we apply our knowledge of God into everyday hope in Christ?
Look at the world of today. Ukrainian Soldiers die daily in the war with Russia. North Korea deploys troops to Russia. Iran supports terrorist groups and continues launching missiles into Israel. India fields new military equipment to counter Chinese border aggression and China dramatically increases incursions into Taiwan. Complex, multi-domain operations surround a rapidly changing political landscape, disturbing international relationships with ramifications difficult to understand, at a pace nearly impossible to keep up with.
This is the reality of world events today. Our present circumstances threaten to steal hope away from us. What does the Christian say in response?
“During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.” Exodus 2:23 (ESV)
In these verses, Israel has endured long-suffering slavery under an evil ruler. They began to put hope in Moses, who seemed positioned to rise-up and replace the ruler of Egypt. Yet, Moses finds himself in trouble and flees. Israel groans. What hope do they have now?
Yet, God hears them.
In today’s world, we may grow worrisome about the world and doubt God’s provision. And by doubting his provision for us, we are questioning his care for us.
Yet, God hears us.
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)
We anticipate a country, if not a world, that lives in peace and upholds freedom. We long for a world that is just and true, free from war and without corruption. We take these cries to the Lord in prayer, and we wait for him to respond.
Notice, that in Exodus 2 God did not deliver Israel from their suffering the moment he heard their cries. It was some time until Moses returned and led them in their exodus from Egypt. Further still, a millennium would pass before the true Messiah would be born. Yet, God was listening! The Israelites could confidently put their hope in God and trust he would provide. We can do the same, and through the power of the Holy Spirit who quickens our heart to the love of Christ, our hope can remain in God and his provision, even when the situation around us seems hopeless.
God hears us, and we must trust in his plans for us. When Christ returns every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. We look forward in faith. We have hope.
“My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness.”