The Advent of Christ - I’ll Put My Hope in God

“Why, my soul are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will praise Him, my Savior and my God.” Psalms 42:11

Why are you downcast? If I were asked this question, I would respond with something along the lines of, "Because I see pain in my community; because my loved one is struggling with addiction; because I see political division hurting relationships; because. . . " There are simply too many negatives in the world to list. These things weigh heavy on me and are all understandably the cause of more than just my soul being downcast.

The unfortunate fact is that the negatives in life are easy to focus on. They stick out. They are places I can easily identify as broken and needing fixing. I want to just fix them, but I know it's not always that simple. Of course, I believe it is important to recognize and acknowledge the hurts and needs of those around us, but the problem lies in dwelling on them. When I begin to dwell on all of the negative, I forget to recognize the positive. In this way, I allow these things to act as obstacles blocking the light and casting a shadow over me. When living in the shadow, it's hard to focus on the light.

How, then, does one remember to focus on the positives when it feels like the negatives are consuming day-to-day life? When the things happening all around are disturbing, heartbreaking, and overwhelming? Put your hope in God.

Hope. Can it be that simple? What even is hope, and why is putting it in God so important? If I haven't been placing it in God, then where has my hope been placed?

According to Merriam-Webster, the word 'hope' is a desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment. When I looked at this definition more closely and applied it to what I knew to be true about the Father, I found the answers I needed. I know that my heart desires peace and healing in my community, and I expect to see the changes that I desire to appear. I may ask the Lord to make these changes, but I expect that the problems will right themselves as a result of God answering my prayers. Here's the issue: inevitably, my expectations aren't met, and I am left disappointed and downcast. Why? Because my hope was placed in the situation or the people I was praying for.

So, how does placing my hope in God make it less disappointing when it seems that my prayers go unanswered? Jesus's humble birth, his perfect life, his sacrificial death, and his miraculous rise from the tomb already fulfilled the expectation that darkness would be overcome. Light has already won! Even though we see and experience pain in this world, and as hard as it is to grasp, it is all temporary. The tribulations will eventually pass away, even if it doesn't happen on our timeline.

The Savior of the world has already defeated darkness, and we know he keeps his promises. So, I will put my hope in Him, and I will praise Him, my Savior and my God!

Lord, thank You for the gift of hope that sustains us even in the darkest times. As we enter into this season of Advent, help us to wait with expectancy, trusting in Your promises. May the light of Your presence illuminate the places of darkness in our lives, and may we be filled with the hope that only comes from You. In Jesus' name, Amen.