A Black Friday Lesson On Hope

You never know what God will use to teach you something powerful. For me, the lesson came in trying to buy a home security system. Our family had been considering one for a while, and when the “Black Friday” sales started popping up all over our phones, we decided to take the plunge.

After doing some research, there was one thing I found they all had in common: none could promise me that no one would ever break into my house. Sure, they all uniquely boast about their version of high-tech cameras and doorbells and sensors and a bunch of other stuff I don’t even fully understand, but all of them could only leave me hoping my family was more safe and that an intruder less likely to come in. That was all the hope they could offer.

As the Advent season starts, I’ve been thinking a lot of about hope the last few days, realizing that the kind of hope God offers His kids is nothing like the hope the security companies could deliver. God’s hope is a confidence, not a probability, and that feels like something I’d much rather stake my future on. God’s hope is built on promise after promise never being broken. God’s hope is anchored in what is DONE. That baby in the manger really did come. Jesus really did die for us. Our Savior really will come back to make all things right. Romans 15:13 promises that God’s hope will lead to so much more: 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Romans 15:13

 That kind of hope makes me want to adore Him.