The Hope That Holds Us Series

Title: The Hope That Holds Us

Text: We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.” — Psalm 33:20

The first candle of Advent is the Candle of Hope—a small flame that speaks into the long darkness of a weary world. Hope does not deny reality; it defies it. It does not ignore the brokenness around us; it simply believes God is greater than the brokenness.

Israel waited for centuries for the Messiah, clinging to God’s promises when circumstances seemed to say otherwise. Their hope was not optimism. It wasn’t wishful thinking. It was confidence that God would do exactly what He said He would do.

And in the fullness of time, Hope Himself stepped into the world—Jesus, the Light that darkness could not overcome.

I. Advent Reminds Us That God Still Steps Into the Darkness Today.

1. Where hope seems thin, Christ whispers, “I am still Emmanuel—God with you.”

The Pianist in the Bomb Shelter

During World War II, as bombs rained down over London, hundreds of people crowded each night into underground subway tunnels seeking safety. Fear was thick in the air. Children cried. Adults trembled. Hope felt almost impossible.

One night, as explosions shook the walls of a crowded station, an elderly woman noticed a man quietly carrying a small, battered suitcase. Without saying a word, he opened it—and pulled out a portable, folding keyboard.

The noise of war echoed above them, but he began to play softly—first a simple hymn, then another. Slowly, the crying stopped. The fear softened. People began to hum. Some even sang.

And someone later said, “When we heard that music, it felt like the war paused. For a moment, we remembered there was still beauty in the world—still something worth hoping for.”

Hope didn’t change the circumstances. Bombs were still falling. The danger was still real.

But hope reminded them that the darkness doesn’t get the final say.

In the same way, when life feels like a battlefield and hope seems lost, God plays a quiet melody into the deepest shelter of our souls—a hymn of His presence, His promises, and His unshakable love.

Hope doesn’t always remove the storm.

But it does remind us that God is with us in it.

2. Where fear grows, Christ says, “Take heart; I have overcome the world.”

"No matter the darkness we face, Christ has overcome the world; His victory is ours to claim and His peace is ours to receive."

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33 (NIV)

3. Where waiting feels endless, Christ assures, “My timing is perfect.”

A young boy was once caught in a sudden storm while sailing a small boat on a lake. The wind whipped the waves high, and panic began to set in. His father, watching from the shore, signaled for him to stay calm and hold on. The boy struggled against the waves, thinking the rescue would never come.

Then, just as the boat seemed about to capsize, his father appeared in a motorboat—arriving at exactly the right moment to save him. The boy later admitted that he didn’t see the rescue coming and thought he was doomed—but it arrived in perfect timing.

In life, we often feel like that boy—struggling, scared, thinking God is late. But God’s timing is never early and never late. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection each happened at the perfect moment in God’s plan. And just like the boy in the storm, when we trust Him, God arrives at just the right time to bring rescue, provision, or breakthrough—even when we can’t see it coming.

II. Hope is not passive. Hope is a posture.

1. It is choosing to believe that God is working even when we cannot see it.

Here are three ways God works in us even when we can’t see it:

• He Shapes Our Character Through Trials

Even when life feels confusing or painful, God uses challenges to develop patience, perseverance, humility, and faith. James 1:2-4 reminds us that trials produce spiritual maturity: “Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

Sometimes the work is invisible, but God is quietly shaping us into vessels fit for His purposes.

• He Strengthens Our Faith Through Waiting

God often works while we are waiting—teaching trust, reliance, and dependence on Him. We may not see immediate results, but He is building our faith. Isaiah 64:4 says, “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” Waiting is not wasted time; it is God’s hidden work.