Advent Devotional: Day 1

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of scriptures we might have hope.”  Romans 15:4 ESV

The news comes and the anxiety starts. My mind starts racing and the planner in me starts to panic.  I learned early in life if I over plan (overthink too) that I can prevent chaos.  Here’s the truth to that false narrative I have believed most of my life:  No amount of planning can prevent something bad from happening. Most things are out of our control.

So how do you find hope when the world seems so hopeless?

Our key verse today says in scripture.  God’s promises give us life in our affliction (Psalm 119:50).  Scripture is designed by God (2 Timothy3:16) to teach us how to endure times of trouble. But also, scripture is meant for encouragement.

Without written scripture, we would not have His character, His promises, or the Hope we need in our chaotic world.  The children of God (Israelites) had to learn who “I AM” was—His character, what He expected from them, and to follow Him.  We have the same tasks.  When they took their eyes off of Him, they allowed their circumstances to rule their lives. Which lead to their grumbling in Exodus.   Sound familiar?

When the news gets to be too much, it is easy to fall into hopelessness. It is easy to pray for your “side” to prevail.  But what if we prayed for God’s side to prevail, for His love to be shown, and for His mercy to soothe the fears our times are stirring?

Hope is found in scripture. It was true then and now.

What are you allowing to dictate your Hope?  Circumstances or God?