Waiting in Hope
I still remember counting the number of sleeps until Christmas as a child. Christmas meant time with family and friends, delicious food, and the excitement of getting to see what was in those strangely shaped packages under the tree. The closer we got to Christmas, the more excited my younger brother and I were. 10 more sleeps. 5 more sleeps. 1 more sleep!!! Our days were filled with hope as we looked forward with anticipation.
Hope. We often use that word rather loosely. Hoping for something is a little like wishing on a star. We want it, but aren’t quite sure it’ll come to pass. At an event earlier this year for those involved in planning and leading worship at Hope Fellowship, singer-songwriter Terry Posthumus reminded us of the Biblical understanding of hope. Biblical hope is rooted in certainty, faith, and trust. When the Bible talks about hope, it refers to the strength we receive from holding onto God’s promises and knowing that when God says he’ll do something, it’ll happen. It is very different than wishing on a star!
Terry’s explanation of Biblical hope changed my understanding of the season of Advent. Intellectually I know that the word “Advent” means “coming” and that in the weeks leading up to Christmas we celebrate Jesus’ first coming and look forward to the day when he will come again. I’ve always leaned into the waiting and longing of Advent – asking God to come back and make all that is broken right again. This year I’ve been reminded of the power of the hope we have as we wait. Jesus is coming back. His coming is as certain as Christmas morning.
This Advent I’m challenging myself to hold onto the sense of hope anticipation for Jesus’ second coming with the same child-like enthusiasm I had each year for Christmas. 10 more sleeps. 5 more sleeps. 1 more sleep!!! Jesus is coming back. We don’t know exactly when. But he’s coming back one day soon.
- Nicole Veenkamp
I still remember counting the number of sleeps until Christmas as a child. Christmas meant time with family and friends, delicious food, and the excitement of getting to see what was in those strangely shaped packages under the tree. The closer we got to Christmas, the more excited my younger brother and I were. 10 more sleeps. 5 more sleeps. 1 more sleep!!! Our days were filled with hope as we looked forward with anticipation.
Hope. We often use that word rather loosely. Hoping for something is a little like wishing on a star. We want it, but aren’t quite sure it’ll come to pass. At an event earlier this year for those involved in planning and leading worship at Hope Fellowship, singer-songwriter Terry Posthumus reminded us of the Biblical understanding of hope. Biblical hope is rooted in certainty, faith, and trust. When the Bible talks about hope, it refers to the strength we receive from holding onto God’s promises and knowing that when God says he’ll do something, it’ll happen. It is very different than wishing on a star!
Terry’s explanation of Biblical hope changed my understanding of the season of Advent. Intellectually I know that the word “Advent” means “coming” and that in the weeks leading up to Christmas we celebrate Jesus’ first coming and look forward to the day when he will come again. I’ve always leaned into the waiting and longing of Advent – asking God to come back and make all that is broken right again. This year I’ve been reminded of the power of the hope we have as we wait. Jesus is coming back. His coming is as certain as Christmas morning.
This Advent I’m challenging myself to hold onto the sense of hope anticipation for Jesus’ second coming with the same child-like enthusiasm I had each year for Christmas. 10 more sleeps. 5 more sleeps. 1 more sleep!!! Jesus is coming back. We don’t know exactly when. But he’s coming back one day soon.
- Nicole Veenkamp
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