Advent – Season of Hope

As Christmas approaches, churches around the world will commemorate the season with the lighting of the candles of Advent, a word that means “coming” or “arrival”. It is a time to remember the birth of Jesus Christ and anticipate His second coming.

Advent begins on the first Sunday of December with the lighting of the HOPE candle. The word HOPE in the Greek is ELPIS which when translated actually means “joyful, confident expectation”. In my mind, I have loosely tied the word HOPE to something resembling wishful thinking, Phrases like “I hope my car starts this morning” or ” I hope my client decides to put an offer on this house” come to mind. As I have meditated on that phrase this week, I’ve had some deep realizations that have given the word HOPE a new depth in my vocabulary.

You see, there is a long history of abandonment in my family line. My maternal grandfather was abandoned by his Dad after his mother’s death and my paternal grandmother was put on the Orphan Train at the tender age of three after the death of her parents. If you have not read about our country’s sordid history of shipping orphans around the country, you should check it out.

So, when I look at the areas of my life that have been under the intense but loving scrutiny of Jesus, I am now seeing how that sense of abandonment has clouded my view of God. Questions like “Will He rescue me when I am in trouble” or “Is He trustworthy to come through when I need Him?” have plagued my subconscious for years.

I have been a life long prodigal. On the surface, a dutiful and responsible older son but inwardly, I strongly identify with the younger prodigal. If you are unfamiliar with the story, the Prodigal decides to abandon his family, take his portion of the inheritance and squander it on his fleshly pursuits. While wallowing in the pig crap (literally), he has an epiphany…he missed his father and longed to be reunited.

So, imagine the scene – heart empty, deeply lonely and with empty pockets, he conjures up his best set of excuses and sulks home only to be greeted by the sight of his father joyously sprinting down the path to smother him with hugs and kisses. The Father demands no explanation of his sons’ exploits but rather begins to shower him with fine robes, rings and other symbols of his acceptance back into the fold.

It was the Prodigal who abandoned the Father, not the Father who abandoned the son.

I have always just moved on from that chapter in the Bible, recognizing my kindredness with the younger son except my story ends a little differently. You see, right after being welcomed home, I would turn around and run off again the next week! Over and over again, repeating that routine, year after year, for decades, always with the lingering questions – “how many more times will my Father welcome me home?” and ”Surely, by now, haven’t I exhausted the depths of his mercy?” Nervously and with pangs of guilt and shame, I await the time I scurry home to find his crossed arms and disapproving stare – fulfilling my suspicion…now HE had abandoned me!

Does that resonate with you?

But, that thinking is a sick trap designed to keep us questioning the Father’s capacity for love and forgiveness. When the truth is that there is nothing that can separate us from the Father’s love – that Jesus ransomed us from that life and rescued us from the pit so that we never have to wonder if the Father will come sprinting down the road to greet us with open arms. Jesus continues to intercede so that the Father sees us as blameless in His sight! That is the Good News of the Gospel my friends.

So, today and with great hope for you and your circumstances, I ask, “what are you joyfully expectant for this Advent season”? Can you rest in the confidence this Advent season that you are redeemed and fully accepted by Father God? This knowledge brings great Hope to a fallen world!

For me, I am joyfully expectant that God is completing the work He began in me. I am confident that He continues to run toward me with open arms and a warm embrace.

Friends, I pray you will be able to lean into these truths and that they would leave you joyfully expectant and confident in the Father’s pursuit of your heart this Advent season.