… and we have entered the holiday season at Oak Springs by focusing on the Advent, that is the first coming of Jesus the Christ into the world, in Bethlehem so many years ago.  Yesterday the theme was hope, and next week it will be peace, and so on until Christmas Day (which is on Sunday this year).  I always wrap up my Sunday morning teaching with “So What?”  It is my shot at encouraging a personal encounter with God’s Word.

So why does hope matter?  I suggested that even when circumstances are bleak… and one only must take in a dose of the news each day to find bleak circumstances… war, domestic violence, inflation, politics… all give me a sense of bleakness.  Or perhaps it is way more personal, and you are facing a particular threat to your well-being, an illness, financial challenges, or family challenges… all seem like pretty bleak circumstances.  Hope in our Lord Jesus means we put our trust in God.  It really does boil down to personal trust in the Lord.  For me, that means prayer and seeking wise counsel from godly people.

The same thing when we find our circumstances are challenging… and that will be up to you to determine just how challenging are your circumstances.  With personal challenges I try to get as much help as I can.  Seeking supportive people (like putting together a team) and following through with assignments that come out of strategic planning sessions are ways to address challenging circumstances.  Here again, trusting the Lord for guidance and wisdom often results in being led to the right kind of support, resources, or paths forward.

And when hope seems elusive… it is time to remember that Jesus is light, and He dispels darkness.  The enemy of our souls loves to play in the dark, but with Christ in our lives we don’t have to play in the dark.  And the threat that comes in the darkness is dispelled by the light Christ shines on us, in us, around us, and through us!  Our hope is very real and the Holy Spirit that is Christ in us can and does lead us to see what needs to be seen, empower us to act in a Christlike manner, and encourage us to know that He is with us always.

My encouragement to you this week is to trust the Lord for hope in whatever circumstance you find yourself.  He loves you and will never leave or forsake you.  Trust Him with all your heart!

For His glory,

Pastor Mike