A Thrill of 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 5:5 NIV)

Christmas is the season of perpetual hope. It began on that first Christmas when Israel was expecting a King who would deliver them from Roman oppression. And ever since, God’s people have continued to hope for a Saviour who would deliver them from their difficult circumstances. Only someone who has travelled through a bumpy road and still made it home will appreciate hope. Whether it be a health crisis that requires endless trips to the hospital or constant attempts to accomplish an impossible task, hope allows us to press through the tough times. That hopeful expectation that no matter what we go through, we will get our breakthrough. Imagine a world without hope. Not many of us would make it. 

But hope is who God is. The prophet Jeremiah called God “the hope of Israel” (Jeremiah 17:13). The apostle Paul includes hope among the things that will remain (1 Corinthians 13:13) and prayed, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). Without God, there would be no hope. And without hope there would be no joy and peace. It is His Holy Spirit who allows us to overflow with hope. I pray that a thrill of hope will cause your heart to rejoice at Christmas and always. 

A thrill of hope-the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

O, Holy Night