Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I happened upon an Instagram post from Joni and Friends featuring the above verse. On studying it further on my own, it dawned on me that the verse contains three out of the four themes for Advent. “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace …”
It is fitting that the season of Advent starts with hope! Is it even possible to find joy and peace without hope? I was recently reading a commentary on the life of Anne Frank. It got me to thinking not just about Anne, but about all of those who weather traumatic, sometimes unspeakable, events. What gets them, and us, through tragic circumstances to face another day?
On one of several connecting flights home from Thailand, our family sat behind an older couple. Their interactions were interesting to view through the slats between the seats. It became clear that the wife had a form of dementia and that the husband was caregiver. … She was cold and put her hoodie on backwards. At another moment, she had hands over her ears because she didn’t like the coughing of another passenger who sat across from us. She then went missing after a presumed trip to the bathroom. … Swann and I got a glimpse into the life of a caregiver whose mate is not an equal any more, but requires constant, vigilant attention.
How does one find hope in unrelentingly trying circumstances? The scenarios are as varied as the human race, and some of us are challenged far less than others, but we all find ourselves at times in what appear to be hopeless situations. Certainly coping skills, mindful positive thinking, and community are all needed in abundance.
But for the person of faith, there is that added element of hope in God. We are not alone! In our most gut-wrenching moment of anguish, there is God. And by the presence of the Holy Spirit, his gift of “overflowing hope”.
May we pray for those who we know are going through unimaginably hard times. May we be present and attentive to their needs. And may we all find hope in the knowledge that God is always present – and that by the power of his Holy Spirit we can all find hope that overflows. Life is truly a journey, and by God’s promise, we are never alone.
Blessings,
Diana Kongkeattikul
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