Nicole’s e-Pistle

December 4, 2024

Greetings, friends!

On the first Sunday of Advent, we lit the candle of hope. During the children’s moment, we learned the difference between a wish and hope, a wish being something that is not likely to happen, and hope being the expectation of something that is entirely possible – i.e. “I wish I could have wings to fly” vs. “I hope I get this job.”

There is another element of hope that rings true – hope becomes most tangible in the trying times of our lives. We hope for peace most strongly when we’re in the midst of war. We hope for stability most desperately when the ground is collapsing beneath our feet. We hope for connection when we feel the loneliest. We hope for love when we most question our worth.

In the early 2000s, one of my favorite Christian music artists suffered a tragic loss. Steven Curtis Chapman’s 5-year-old daughter was tragically hit and killed by her older brother in their driveway. It was a complete accident… and a complete test of faith. Yet, the family rallied around each other, and as they attempted to process their grief, Steven wrote the song entitled “With Hope.” (If you would like to hear the song, grab a box of tissues first and click HERE) In the song, he says:

We have this hope as an anchor
‘Cause we believe that everything
God promised us is true

So we can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
‘Cause we know our goodbye
Is not the end…

During the season of Advent, we celebrate the coming of the birth of Christ, but we also eagerly watch for the second coming of our Savior’s return. The holidays are inevitably a mixture of joy and pain. No matter where you are today, may you find comfort in God’s undying love for you in sending us His only Son, and may you find hope in the promise of Christ’s return, when every tear will be wiped away!

Blessings and deep peace,