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“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people …’” (Luke 2:10)

Anticipation

"Good news or bad news?"

Waiting, wondering and worrying can be a lot to handle for a lot of us. For some, anticipation is an exciting and good feeling. For others, anticipation is synonymous with anxiety, stress and worry.

Even during the holiday season, the anticipation of the season is exciting to some. Packing for the ski trip, shopping for gifts at the mall, baking treats for the cookie exchange or hosting family from out of town. Some see it as lots of fun activities to look forward to. 

For others, when the holidays roll around each year, it’s a cause of worry (how will I afford all of this?), chaos (how can I possibly fit one more thing onto my calendar?) or loneliness (must I be reminded of a loved one’s loss or absence in my life?). 

Christmas is a season of pure and holy anticipation 

The definition of “advent” is the appearance or emergence of something or the arrival of a notable person, thing or event. From a biblical point of view, advent is the season leading up to Christmas and includes the four preceding Sundays ahead of the coming of Christ.

As followers of Christ, the advent season is a time of anticipation in the most pure and holy way. 

Good News

There is usually a blank page or two in our Bibles between the Old Testament and the New Testament. We finish the book of Malachi, flip over a few pages, and immediately get to read about Jesus. The four Gospels – the accounts of Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection – are only a couple page turns away for us. 

But for those who were living it out in real time, it was a long season of waiting, wondering and for some – worrying. What is a quick page turn for us was a lot of anticipation for them. Those people living it out in biblical times didn't know when things would continue moving forward. They were waiting for a word from the Lord. 

“The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:16)

“Good news or bad news?” The waiting, wondering and worrying would have been a lot for them to handle. We see that, in due time, their patience paid off. The news they eventually, finally received – was good. Good news of great joy!

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people…’” (Luke 2:10)

Hope

Worthy of being a "word of the year"

Every time the calendar turns, people set out to start the new year with big intentions and dreams. New Year’s resolutions are a common thing to create and some even determine a “word of the year” for the next 365 days. A few years back, I joined in on this — thinking about and praying over what my word of the year would be. 

I decided to latch onto the word “hope.” I wanted a word - a theme - to orient my year around that was also a name of God and an attribute of His character. To me, hope is the most beautiful, simple, joyful version of what it means to look forward to something. Hope is being fully excited and in no way scared, nervous or resentful.  

To hope isn’t an easy thing. Hope doesn’t come naturally since we are fallen, sinful people living in a fallen, sinful world. To hope means to go against the grain of our own way of doing things. As author Morgan Harper Nichols says: “Hope is a small rebellion.”

To be hopeful and to remain hopeful takes effort, courage, patience and determination. When our hope is rooted in Jesus, it is a good, good thing and all the extra effort, courage, patience and determination that’s required is worth it.

Hope in the Lord

Putting our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives means to be full of hope. 

• To hope is to know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
• To hope is to seek God and find God when we seek Him with all of our heart (Jeremiah 29:13).
• To hope is to be confident that God began a good work in us and will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

No matter how we move about your days — whether it is with excited anticipation, wonder or worry — we can hope in the Lord.

Regardless of what this Christmas season has in store for us — whether we are joyfully looking ahead or are feeling worried, chaotic and lonely — we can hope in the Lord.

Application 

What does it look like for me to hope in the Lord — even today, even right now? 

Recognizing the limiting beliefs and the lies in your life is a great first step to moving into a life full of hope. It is hard work, but well worth it. When you uproot these limitations or lies from your heart, you can replace the lies with truth about who God is and who you are in Him.

Moving ahead, you can ask and pray through these questions …

• How am I discouraged? 
• Where is there fear or anger in my life?
• What am I trying to control?
• What negative thoughts am I believing?
• What does the Lord want to free me from?

Then, read these truths, meditate on them, speak them out loud, and reflect on them again and again in your life.

Read
If you typically stick to one version of the Bible, read a passage of Scripture in a few different versions. You can also listen to passages of Scripture being read to you audibly. The Bible App is a great resource for both of these ideas. 

Meditate
Take time to truly study and meditate on Scripture. Write out Bible verses, pen to paper. Underline what stands out to you, circle any attributes of God or Fruits of the Spirit that you see. Put a question mark by the things you need to find clarity on or dig into deeper. Put an exclamation mark by the things you want to share with someone. 

Speak
Read passages of Scripture out loud to engage more of your senses. Even if it takes some time, work to memorize and recite a Bible verse or two. 

Repeat
If you have quiet time at a specific spot or during a certain time of day, great! Let it start there, but don’t let it stay there. Pick a Bible verse to take with you throughout the day. Read the verses from your morning devotional during your lunch break. Pray a prayer of thanksgiving during your commute. Take a screenshot of the verse you’re working to memorize and make it your phone’s lock screen.

God and His Character

Put your hope in God by declaring what you know about Him and His character:

• The Lord is my source of truth. 
• Jesus – and His birth, life, death and resurrection – is where my lasting hope is rooted. 
• The saving power of Christ is worthy of my praise. 
• My foundation of hope for the future is because of Christ and the joy, love and peace He brings.

Who You Are in Christ 

Put your hope in Christ by knowing who He is and, therefore, who that makes you:

• I am confident because I trust in Christ alone.
• I am at peace because my hope is in the Prince of Peace.
• I am courageous because I am promised a perfect peace in God. 
• I am patient because I know He makes everything beautiful in its time. 
• I am hopeful because I know God is ruler over all.

Encouragement

Hope does not put us to shame

As we step into a hope-filled life that is grounded and established in Christ, may we be confident in His plans and purpose for our lives.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, 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 5:1-5 NIV)

The glorious times ahead

In this season of anticipation, as we root our hope in Jesus Christ, be encouraged by this paraphrase from Romans.

“That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next.

Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.” (Romans 8:18-21 MSG)

Journey through the four elements of Advent with us this holiday season! Check out our other Christmas With Fishhook content or read the next advent blog post - coming soon.