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Advent: A Reason to Hope

In a time when there seems to be little hope, Jesus comes to us as a tiny babe to bring hope in a fallen world.

In all my ministry as a pastor and as a District Superintendent, I have seen so many people that have lost hope. Hope is the word that rings out during Advent.

The season of Advent invites us into hope — enduring, life-giving hope in a world that often feels desperate and bleak. In the book of Romans, we read, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4-13). These words remind us that the Scriptures are filled with stories, lessons, and promises meant to build us up, to guide us, and to root us in the hope given by God. He is the God who grants endurance and encouragement, giving His people a spirit of unity and a means to glorify Him.

Similarly, in 1 Peter 1:3, we find, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” This living hope is both present and active, sustaining us. And in Isaiah 9:6, we see a glimpse of hope born into the world: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

At a time when the world feels devoid of hope, Advent is a reminder that our hope entered history as a tiny baby, bringing light into a world that had grown dark.

One of the hallmarks of true hope is joy. God’s gift of hope through His Son, Jesus, is a source of profound and lasting joy. Mother Teresa, when asked to describe qualities she valued in those working alongside her, mentioned “the desire for hard work and an attitude of joy.” It is this joy, grounded in hope, that enables us to endure difficulties and to press on through hardships.

I recall a moment when I joined a parishioner from my church to look for Jerry, a homeless man that our teens had been reaching out to. Jerry lived in a makeshift shelter in the woods — a dwelling of blankets, cardboard, and plastic. When we finally found him outside a grocery store, he shared his despair with us. "I don’t want to live," he admitted. Once, Jerry had a home and family, but now he felt abandoned, stripped of all hope and joy.

There are many factors that can rob us of our joy if we allow them. Circumstances are a frequent culprit. In his book Laugh Again, Chuck Swindoll touches on this when he shares the response he gives to those who ask, "How can I be joyful under these circumstances?" His answer is, "What are you doing under the circumstances? The Christian life calls us to live above our circumstances."

Circumstances that rob us of joy may include problems in relationships, financial stress, grief, or conflict within the church. But Scripture encourages us to not let our joy be dictated by what is happening around us. With God’s help, we can transcend circumstances and protect our joy.

The past can also rob us of joy. Many of us carry wounds and regrets, unable to let go. In my time as a pastor, I encountered an elderly congregant, John, who was haunted by memories of his service in World War II. One Sunday, he approached me and shared a story from his time in a foxhole during an enemy attack. With tears in his eyes, he asked, “Pastor, can God forgive me for taking another life?” The burden of that question had weighed on him for years. Through counseling and prayer, he was finally able to release that weight and feel peace once more.

Finally, an unforgiving spirit can be a barrier to joy. Unforgiveness keeps us bound, holding onto pain and resentment. In one of my pastorates, I encountered people who made it their mission to bring hardship to my ministry. Only through prayer and forgiveness was I able to release those feelings and continue with a spirit of peace and joy.

God’s gift of hope also brings peace — a peace that becomes a foundation for anyone committed to Jesus Christ. This peace is not dependent on our circumstances but is an internal assurance, much like a well within a castle that remains unaffected by external attacks. The world’s peace depends on surroundings, but Christ’s peace is a spring that comes from within, untouched by external turmoil.

This peace, given by Jesus, is resilient:

1. It is not shaken by adversity.
2. It is not overshadowed by the mistakes of the past.
3. It is not disturbed by external factors, whether the death of a loved one or someone who might test our patience.

Today, more than ever, we need this peace from God. Do we have peace with God, and do we have peace in our relationship with Christ? It is this peace that sustains us in the darkest times and allows us to keep moving forward.

Our hope, given by God, is empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit works within us, casting out feelings of hopelessness and enabling us to live lives filled with joy, peace, and a deeply-planted hope. The Spirit helps us confront and surrender un-Christlike attitudes such as jealousy, anger, and despair.

One of the enemy’s oldest tricks is to sow discord within families and churches. A divided church becomes a place of strife rather than one of sanctuary, hindering the Spirit’s work. But the church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is called to be a beacon of hope, offering a different way of living in a world that often feels hopeless. Christ commissions us to bring holy living into an unholy world, but it requires us to yield fully to the Spirit of God.

As we consider this Advent season, I invite you to examine your own heart. Is something robbing you of your joy or hope? Is it a person, a circumstance, or a memory from the past? The good news is that Christ offers to substitute our hopelessness with hope. Ask Him to fill you with His peace and joy today.

Even though we gather online, the presence of God is not confined by physical altars. Bow your head right now, and give whatever burdens you have to Christ. If a person has taken away your hope, give them to Jesus. If circumstances have worn you down, lay them before the Lord. If your past haunts you, surrender it to God. Each of us deserves hope, and Christ longs to give us a reason to hope.

This Advent season, let us all cry out for hope, holding fast to the promises of God. May the peace, joy, and hope of Christ fill our hearts now and forever.

Advent cries out HOPE!

- Dr. Mark Berry serves as interim pastor for a small multicultural inner-city church and as adjunct professor at Nazarene Bible College.