Unwrapping Advent: Through Voices of Wisdom Dec. 3
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Day 3
17 When God wanted to further demonstrate to the heirs
of the promise that his purpose doesn’t change,
he guaranteed it with a solemn pledge.
18 So these are two things that don’t change,
because it’s impossible for God to lie.
He did this so that we, who have taken refuge in him,
can be encouraged to grasp the hope that is lying in front of us.
19 This hope, which is a safe and secure anchor for our whole being, enters the sanctuary behind the curtain.
20 That’s where Jesus went in advance and entered for us…
Hebrews 6:13-20, CEB
Hope in God’s Promises
As I headed for work, the early morning darkness matched my gloomy mood. My stomach knotted from the twisting troubles on my mind: a sister’s hospitalization, rumors of layoffs at work, a lost check in the mail. And it wasn’t even 8 A.M. yet.
Forcibly, I shifted my thoughts to something less stressful — my lesson for the upcoming Sunday. My topic was the fourth fruit of the Spirit — patience. How timely is that? I wondered. I could use some about now. I lingered on an idea from the study … hope inspires patience in circumstances. “So, that’s my problem — loss of hope,” I mused aloud.
The Greek word for hope, elpis, translated as the expectation of something good — not the “wishful thinking” type of hope, but the firm assurance and expectation that it will actually occur.
The nuance caught my imagination. My slumped shoulders straightened slightly. My mood lightened. Hold on. Hope in the Lord. Trust He is with me and will not leave me to navigate these circumstances alone.
With my drive ending, I made the final turn toward the parking garage. I prayed for this stronger elpis-like hope needed to navigate through this season of troubled economic times, my sister-in-law’s impossible medical situation, and finding that lost check.
As I approached the garage entrance, I saw God’s answer. In the dusky light of dawn, it rose boldly into the sky and arched sharply over the building’s upper deck — a rainbow. Thick ribbons of color illuminated through the darkness. Vibrant braids of red, yellow, and green shimmered against the velvet blue sky as a reminder of God’s covenant with all of life upon earth. The rainbow, the symbol of hope and God’s promise always to be with and to deliver His people (Genesis 9:12-16).
I laughed out loud. Only God could put a rainbow in the sky on a perfectly dry day.
God validated that hope the rest of the day. Then, as if to circle and underscore His promise, God reinforced it one last time. That evening, while cleaning out a magazine holder, I came across a bookmark buried beneath a stack of books. One word lay inscribed on an ivory background in a rainbow of color.
The word? HOPE!
God ended my day as He began it — with elpis hope that inspired patience. Patience that allowed me to wait, trusting in the Lord’s faithfulness to keep His promises always.
Reflect: Remember when you experienced blessings after a season of hope-filled waiting for God during a challenging situation. How is God calling you to think differently about your current circumstances?
Pray: Lord God, enable me to anchor my life and make decisions based on my confident HOPE in You and Your promises, and not on my circumstances. In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who is my hope, Amen.
Gloria Ashby
Lay Leader