Finding Hope in the Darkness

Advent Week 1–HOPE

By Kaitlyn Klippert

Psalm 130:5 NIV

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope.

Hebrews 10:22-24 TPT

…we come closer to God and approach him with an open heart, fully convinced that nothing will keep us at a distance from Him. For our hearts have been sprinkled with blood to remove impurity, and we have been freed from an accusing conscience. Now we are clean, unstained, and presentable to God inside and out! So now wrap your heart tightly around the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps his promises! Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love.

Romans 8:28 TPT

So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are His lovers who have been called to fulfill His designed purpose.

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Finding Hope in the Darkness

By Kaitlyn Klippert

This first week of Advent is very much about anticipating. It’s about looking at the world around us and remembering that there is a Savior who has come to redeem all of the brokenness in our world and in our lives. The world is hurting in many ways right now, and it can seem hopeless. We can, however, focus on the good and holy things happening in our world, and have hope! Here are some hopeful things happening in our world today: 

Did you know that in her last days on Earth with terminal cancer, Casey McIntyre began a fundraiser to pay off strangers’ medical debt, and has now posthumously paid over $65 million of medical debt? 

Did you know that California college student, Joanna Maniti, recently raised enough funds to open an orphanage in the Philippines after visiting there on two mission trips? She was so moved by her experience that she got a master’s degree in business and worked with local and international stakeholders to open the orphanage. 

Did you know that there is a group of ladies at a senior living community in Dallas, Texas, who hand-knit thousands of homemade hats and toys for children in hospitals and war zones? The group calls themselves ‘The Knit Wits’. 

These stories remind us that there is a Rescuer at work, and we have reason to be encouraged. Just like these examples listed above, each of us can be God’s light in this world. Like mentioned in Hebrews 10, we can be creative in our efforts to bless others. We can spread hope to others in their darkest times. 

In this first week of Advent, let’s practice being hopeful so we can be encouraged and be encouraging to the world around us. God is good and He is the light, the source of our hope. 

Let’s Reflect:

Ask yourself: What is one way I can be a hopeful person in this season of Advent? How can I bring hope to others this season?

Let’s Pray: 

Lord, help us have hope even when all we can see is darkness. Help us be inspired by Your Word and Your Promises, knowing that we can put our trust in You. Thank you for this season of Advent. We enter it with anticipation and expectation. May we receive Your words with open ears and open hearts. May we be a blessing to others. Amen.