2019 Advent Week One: A Hope Made Sure

…we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)

Ten years ago, my second child was born just three days before Christmas, although his due date was in early December. During the three long weeks between when he was expected and when he came, I waited—body and soul. Such a tangible season of extended waiting forever altered the way I understand Advent.

There was something so audacious about that birth-waiting. People asked if I was excited, if I was ready—as if we could ever be ready for something so entirely unknown, something that could result in the greatest joy or the deepest sorrow; something entirely out of my control which would in any case change my life forever.

I was pregnant not only with my son but with hope.

The Christian story is essentially one of daring hope, and we proclaim it boldly during Advent. All our senses tell us that God is not here, that the world is encompassed in darkness, cold, and pain. Yet we proclaim during this darkest, coldest time that He is here, tangibly born in the flesh, present with us still today. That His light, comfort, joy, and peace have already won out against the darkness, cold, pain, and despair. We proclaim that our sufferings themselves are the impetus for peace, for they produce in us perseverance, and perseverance character, and character hope. And we insist that this audacious hope will not disappoint us—because God’s love has already been poured into our hearts though Jesus and His Holy Spirit.

Are you waiting for something this Advent? Are you balanced between hope and despair, vulnerable to the future, uncertain which way things will land? My prayer is that your sufferings—however small or severe—will be for you the birthplace of peace; that in your struggle will be born perseverance. That perseverance will give birth to character, and character to hope. And that this hope will be made sure by the love of God, poured into your heart through the Holy Spirit.

For all this, during Advent, we wait and we hope. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.