I wanted to share some thoughts on the origins of Advent and scripture on the first candle of advent.

“The Advent wreath first appeared in Germany in 1839. A Lutheran minister working at a mission for children created a wreath out of the wheel of a cart. He placed twenty small red candles and four large white candles inside the ring. The red candles were lit on weekdays and the four white candles were lit on Sundays.

Eventually, the Advent wreath was created out of evergreens, symbolizing everlasting life in the midst of winter and death. The circle reminds us of God’s unending love and the eternal life He makes possible.  Advent candles are often nestled in the evergreen wreath. Families begin lighting a candle on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and they light another candle each subsequent Sunday. The most common Advent candle tradition, however, involves four candles.

A new candle is lit on each of the four Sundays before Christmas. Each candle represents something different, although traditions vary. The four candles traditionally represent hope, faith, joy, and peace.” 

Reference: https://www.christianity.com/christian-life/christmas/what-is-advent.html

Hope – The First Candle of Advent

The first candle of Advent is the candle of Hope.  I find that quite ironic this year since we are in a time where Hope is much needed.  At the moment, many of us feel quite hopeless and yet we are beginning a season of Advent where hope is our focus as we prepare for the birth of Christ.  

We “hope” that a vaccine for COVID-19 will be available for everyone soon.  We “hope” with great expectation that 2021 will be a much better year for everyone.  We “hope” that the life we once took so much for granted will return and a sense of normalcy will prevail in the coming year.  We “hope” that through all the trials, struggles, tragedies and perhaps a few triumphs of 2020, we will be better people.

“Hope is that beautiful place between the ways things are and the way things are yet to be.”  

There is so much power in hope.  It creates a feeling of great expectations and possibilities.  As we prepare to end this indescribable year, let us hold tight to the hope that each day brings a promise of new victories.  

“We wait in hope for the Lord, he is our help and our shield.  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.  May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.”  

Psalm 33: 20-22

Did you know that a synonym for “hope” is actually “faith”?  Faith and hope go hand in hand, we can’t have faith without hope and we can’t have hope without faith.  Our faith is based on the hopeful promise that God is reliable, we can depend on Him through all of life’s joys and sorrows. 

“For in this hope we were saved.  But hope that is seen is no hope at all.  Who hopes for what he already has?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”  

Romans 8: 24-25

We wait patiently with hopeful hearts as we depend on God, even when all hope seems hopeless.  God will strengthen you with his righteous right.  (Isaiah 41: 10)  He is our Hope!

As we wait, in preparation for Christ’s birth, I wanted to share the following verse:

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope…”

Psalm 130:5

I hope you have a fantastic day, be encouraged,

“Keep HOPE alive!”  

May His word give you Hope each day.