Christ Our Shepherd Advent Devotion Series 2025
Traditional Tuesday
December 2, 2025
Pastor Wes
HOPE
“For in hope we were saved… Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
Romans 8:24–25
Each week during Advent, I’ll be exploring one of the candles on the Advent wreath – Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love – and what each one asks of us as followers of Christ. This week we begin with Hope, the first light that pushes back the darkness.
Sunday we heard Jesus’ words from Matthew 24 calling us to “keep awake,” to live with a posture of readiness. That same posture is at the heart of Christian hope. Hope isn’t wishful thinking or holiday optimism. As Paul reminds us, hope is anchored in what we cannot yet see, rooted in trust that God’s promises will unfold in God’s time.
Advent invites us to step into that kind of hope. We know the story of Christmas well, yet God’s work in our lives continues to unfold in ways we cannot always anticipate. Like the difference we talked about between passive and active waiting, hope is active. It leans forward. It pays attention. It listens for God’s movement even in the ordinary rhythms of our days.
Where are you waiting in your own life?
Are there choices you’re holding off on for the sake of fear? How might God enter that conversation and speak to your situation?
Where do you find yourself hoping for what is not yet visible? Paul’s words are theological and comforting in their own way, but at times we find ourselves asking “so what”? Faith is more than we can see, certainly, but God can see distance at times. How might we open our eyes to see God’s actions in our midst?
Where might we find hope breaking through at Christ Our Shepherd?
The first candle on the wreath burns as a reminder that God keeps promises. Even in seasons of uncertainty, Christ is drawing near.
Prayer:
O God of Hope, kindle Your light within us this week. Teach us to trust what we cannot yet see and to live with expectant hearts. Strengthen our hope as we await the coming of Christ, who is our sure and steady promise. Amen.