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Isaiah 9:2 People who walk in darkness will see a great light.
In her book Atlas of the Heart, Brené Brown notes that one of the most experienced emotions is Disappointment. This emotion may be felt more often during the Holidays. There’s disappointment about what gifts were or were not under the tree. Disappointment about not having the opportunity to spend time with specific family members or friends. There’s disappointment about a lot.
Sadly, ongoing disappointment may also lead to a lack of hope. Some may have thoughts of, Why hope for something when I know I’m going be disappointed anyway? Or worse, I don’t have anything to hope for. Life is hard and it isn’t going to get any better.
But when you think back on the people of God before Jesus’ birth, they had even less reason to hope. Approximately 400 years had passed from the time of the last writings of the Old Testament. Hundreds upon hundreds of years had passed since prophecies about a coming Messiah. Despite their circumstances, a remnant of people continued to hope.
READING & PRAYERS:
ISAIAH 9:2, LUKE 1:78-79, JOHN 8:12 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: What is something you used to hope for but no longer do? What would it look like to begin hoping again?
DIGGING DEEPER: Write down all of the reasons (or thoughts) you have for no longer having hope in this area of your life. Ask yourself, where do these thoughts come from? Are they in alignment with the Scriptures? Then consider what steps you can take to begin thinking differently, allowing yourself to hope.
Take a Step: Practice listening to God by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice a day.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I’m beginning to recognize that I experience disappointment far more than I would have thought. And I confess this has led to me having less hope. As Romans 12:2 says, help me to change my thinking so that I can experience a life filled with hope and not a life of despair. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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