This week’s daily readings:

This week’s devotional:

What Do You HOPE For?

by Rt. Rev. Brian Bethke

Scripture:

The Lord has sent this message to every land:
    “Tell the people of Israel,
‘Look, your Savior is coming.
    See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.’”
They will be called “The Holy People”
    and “The People Redeemed by the Lord.”
And Jerusalem will be known as “The Desirable Place”
    and “The City No Longer Forsaken.”

— Isaiah 62:11-12 (NLT)

Reflection:

In my mid 20s, I had an opportunity to attend a wilderness survival course. One of the skills they taught was how to navigate rough terrain at night. Armed with only a compass and a map, without any flashlights, we were sent off individually into the most rugged and remote desert terrain in the dark. The task was to find ten strategically hidden boxes within a time limit at night.

Immediately, the darkness had my mind thinking all sorts of things. I HOPED I didn’t fall off one of the many cliffs in the area. I HOPED I didn’t run into a cactus that had 3-inch needles that would easily pierce through any protective clothing. Then there was the wildlife! I HOPED I did not come face-to face with any of the mountain lions that patrolled the mountainous chaparral landscape or the western diamondback rattlesnakes that were under every fallen branch and between every rock crevasse.

Compartmentalizing my fear and anxiety, I had to focus on the mission. I plotted my grid coordinates and moved out. My eyes adjusted to the darkness enough to make out key terrain features that allowed me to navigate, but still I fell multiple times, ran into rattlesnakes, and went headlong into a cactus. (I think I am pulling out needles to this day!) After hours of wandering in the night, I found only nine of the ten boxes. Exhausted, disoriented, and in pain, any HOPE I had in getting all ten points and avoiding the pitfalls and dangers of this journey were gone.

I sat on a cliff that overlooked a vast eastern valley, accepting the reality of my failure (i.e., throwing a major pity party!) when it happened: the light of the sun started peeking out, ever so slightly. As my eyes winced from the light, HOPE began to flood back. I knew everything was going to be okay! Here’s the horrible thing: a while later, after the light of the sun illuminated everything, I forgot how special and amazing it was. I lost some of the wonder of the HOPE I experienced.

In Isaiah 62:11 we read “Look, your Savior is coming...” and in Isaiah 9:2 we read, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.” In John 1:9 we read, “The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” Who is this Great Light that brings HOPE in the midst of darkness? It’s Jesus! In John 8:12 Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” Christian HOPE is not just a feeling, a sentiment, or a wish. HOPE is embodied in a person! HOPE is found in Jesus Christ! This is what we remember this season.

Let’s face it: the terrain of life is hard, filled with all sorts of dangers and pitfalls. We all experience anxieties, fears, and lack of light. However, what we HOPE for can only be fulfilled by a person: The Light... Jesus. Only Jesus brings real, assured HOPE! This Christmas, my HOPE and prayer for you and me is that we recapture the wonder in the HOPE we have in Christ. He is here! He is coming!

Prayer:

Almighty God, whose light shines in the darkness, set our hearts alight with the fire of your love and awaken HOPE within us so that, amidst the darkness of our broken world, we may walk in confident expectation that your light will never be overcome. We pray this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Week 52: December 21-27, 2025 - What Do You HOPE For?

CONTACT US