A Time for Hope - Advent Devotions 2019
Saturday, December 14 - Joe Ricci
Isaiah 40: 28-31 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He
will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.
It seems that with each passing day the news grows more and more somber. We learn of terrorist attacks around the world, trade wars that threaten the economy, persecution of Christians for their faith, political turmoil that seems to be ripping the country apart, and rips in the social fabric that once held this country together. It sometimes seems to be more than we can fathom. It is easy to become depressed, despondent and devoid of hope. How then do we go on?
Admittedly, it becomes all too easy to give up and quit trying. The daily obstacles we face often seem insurmountable. But, as I become weary and discouraged, I am reminded of the story of the man who came upon a beach littered with starfish after a particularly violent storm and high tide. As he came to each starfish he bent down, lifted it up and threw it back into the sea. Another person who came to survey the damage from the storm stopped and asked the man why with so many starfish he was making the effort? How could he possibly make a difference? As the man bent down and picked up yet another starfish, he threw it into the sea and said, “See, I made a difference for that one.”
As the Prophet Isaiah noted, even the youth grow tired and stumble; yet, always there to sustain us, is the strength of God. So, when we are confronted with the seemingly insurmountable obstacles that face us each day, we can take comfort in knowing that all it takes is one small step, one small act of kindness that allows us to move to the next step. Pretty soon, each of those small steps combine to allow a big leap forward. As God lifts us up and sustains us, we are reminded that if we but hope in the Lord, He will allow us to soar on wings like eagles; we will run and not grow weary, we will walk and not be faint. In this season of Advent, as we expectantly wait for the coming of the Lord, knowing that God is always there to help ease our burdens, we have reason to hope and to be joyful.
Heavenly Father, we ask that You send Your Holy Spirit to be with us all this holiday season, give us hope in the knowledge that You will again come to comfort and redeem us and allow us to find hope in the reminder from the Prophet Isaiah that though the grasses may wither and the flowers may fade, the word of God will be with us always. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Isaiah 40: 28-31 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He
will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.
It seems that with each passing day the news grows more and more somber. We learn of terrorist attacks around the world, trade wars that threaten the economy, persecution of Christians for their faith, political turmoil that seems to be ripping the country apart, and rips in the social fabric that once held this country together. It sometimes seems to be more than we can fathom. It is easy to become depressed, despondent and devoid of hope. How then do we go on?
Admittedly, it becomes all too easy to give up and quit trying. The daily obstacles we face often seem insurmountable. But, as I become weary and discouraged, I am reminded of the story of the man who came upon a beach littered with starfish after a particularly violent storm and high tide. As he came to each starfish he bent down, lifted it up and threw it back into the sea. Another person who came to survey the damage from the storm stopped and asked the man why with so many starfish he was making the effort? How could he possibly make a difference? As the man bent down and picked up yet another starfish, he threw it into the sea and said, “See, I made a difference for that one.”
As the Prophet Isaiah noted, even the youth grow tired and stumble; yet, always there to sustain us, is the strength of God. So, when we are confronted with the seemingly insurmountable obstacles that face us each day, we can take comfort in knowing that all it takes is one small step, one small act of kindness that allows us to move to the next step. Pretty soon, each of those small steps combine to allow a big leap forward. As God lifts us up and sustains us, we are reminded that if we but hope in the Lord, He will allow us to soar on wings like eagles; we will run and not grow weary, we will walk and not be faint. In this season of Advent, as we expectantly wait for the coming of the Lord, knowing that God is always there to help ease our burdens, we have reason to hope and to be joyful.
Heavenly Father, we ask that You send Your Holy Spirit to be with us all this holiday season, give us hope in the knowledge that You will again come to comfort and redeem us and allow us to find hope in the reminder from the Prophet Isaiah that though the grasses may wither and the flowers may fade, the word of God will be with us always. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.