“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.”
Psalm 130:5

When we hear the word advent, what comes to mind?

One word that is always associated with advent is coming.

For the church, it’s a season observed as a time of waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth or coming of Jesus.

When I was a child, I always looked forward to celebrating Christmas. In my young and innocent heart, there’s something in this season that made me feel hopeful. At that time, I didn’t have world-changing wishes or hopes.

I had a simple one: that my Dad would come home and spend that special day with us.

It was a time of the year that I had always waited for excitedly. It was a season of hope for me. Every year, I would wait and expect that this could be the time, but it didn’t happen until two years ago. I was already an adult.

Still, my long wait was over! My hope was finally realized.

I wonder what the shepherds on the night of the first Christmas must have felt when the Good News was announced to them, by no less than a throng of angels! History tells us that at the time, the nation of Israel was under the rule of the Roman Empire. The Israelites had been waiting for the time of their deliverance; anticipating the coming of the Messiah.

Imagine the joy and hope that this good news brought to the shepherds! The long wait was over!

A Savior, their Savior was born! In the darkest days of their history, the brightest message of hope shone like that of the star that guided and led them to the manger.

Waiting is not easy, especially when what you’re waiting for is taking too long to come.

The psalmist in Psalm 130:5-6 said:

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.”

He must have felt weary sometimes, but he didn’t give up. What did he do, instead?

1. He put his hope/”hoped” in God’s word, knowing that He who promised is faithful that the Lord will come and will deliver His people.
2. He “hoped” whole-heartedly. His mind, strength and heart were focused on Him. His whole being waited on the Lord.
3. He “hoped” expectantly. Like the watchmen waiting for the morning because they believed that morning would indeed come. The psalmist was hopeful that the Lord would redeem His people.

Maybe you are waiting for something or even someone and you have been in that situation for a long time now.

Remain hopeful.

As Jesus came on that cold and dreary night, which brought a message of hope and salvation to the shepherds and the world, that someone or something that you’ve been waiting for is coming. The long wait will soon be over and your hope will be realized.

The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
    and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
    when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
    you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
    the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
    will be fuel for the fire.

 For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.
Isaiah 9: 2-7

In times like this, when politics inside and outside the church are turbulent, when leaders don’t seem like people we can trust, when elections and referendums divide nations against themselves, when we’re involved in war, when conflict splinters apart leadership structures, when riots and revolutions take place, when we find ourselves in conflict with our neighbours over how we voted, it can be easy to get caught up in it all. It can be easy to give in to anger and bitterness, and to fear over what will happen and what the future will look like. It can be easy to lose hope.

But here’s the thing.

We live in the hope of the ‘now and not yet’.

Our reading today talks about both. The ‘not yet’ hope is the knowledge that things will not always be like this. Isaiah’s prophecy speaks of God’s promise that Jesus will one day reign over a kingdom of justice, joy, freedom and peace; the things used in battle will be burnt up, no longer needed. While things may look very different today, we have the sure hope of a better future.

But we don’t just have hope for the future.

There’s also a ‘now’ hope.

Isaiah’s prophecy doesn’t just look to Jesus’ return, it looks to Jesus’ birth and life (700 years in the future for Isaiah). Jesus healed the sick, set people free, and provided for people. The Holy Spirit is at work right now doing the same. Our God is able to miraculously intervene – and we should expect and pray that He will. However, He doesn’t always do so.

Our ‘now’ hope includes this possibility of divine provision and protection, but it doesn’t depend on it. While God does have His hand on our lives, on countries and churches, it is also true that things don’t always seem to work out perfectly. (Though, for the record, let me say that God uses these things for His glory despite and through the brokenness).

Our hope is not in what Jesus can do for us, it is in Jesus himself; He is the prize and the destination.

When we turn our eyes upon Jesus and seek him, our situation may not change, our politicians may not reform and our governments may not make good and godly decisions, but we will have an unshakeable and certain hope. Let us remember that, while it is good to take all this other stuff seriously because it is important, putting our hope in it can lead to disappointment and fear, allowing it to become all-consuming can prevent us loving our neighbours who have different opinions.

This season of advent, as we prepare our hearts for Jesus, are there areas of worry and fear which we need to trust God with? Are there people we need to forgive and love, no matter what we think of their stance on something?

Take heart, dear one, we have unshakeable hope in Jesus despite the world, the relationships, the health statuses which rock around us.

He is sufficient.

He is more than enough.

Sometimes turning your eyes to Jesus might be a you-can-barely-turn-your-head-you’re-so-hurt-or-angry or a running-full-tilt-at-him but, no matter how small the step, know that as you look to Him, He meets you with deep love and sees the deep places of your heart.

Let us seek Him for who He is today.