The word hope

Hope is a tricky word. It's not an easy one to define or explain. John Piper has a lengthy post about hope which is the beginning of a series on hope. He says this of hope, "It does not imply uncertainty or lack of assurance. Instead biblical hope is a confident expectation and desire for something good in the future. There is moral certainty in it."

It is significant and it is something that we cling to—the hope of the gospel. It is a part of faith and that it's even in the biblical definition.

Even more, it is woven into the Christmas story. The story is full of hope. The promises of God are kept in the person of Jesus. And those kept promises ensure a better hope for what is to come.

As we approach Christmas Day, can I encourage you to take a moment and think about what you hope for? Or what hope even means to you?

Here is the reading for the twenty-third day of Advent:

Psalm 131:3
Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always!

Creative Waiting is a design reflection on the season of Advent. It is released daily December 1st through the 25th. For more on the why behind the series, start here. To begin at the beginning, start with Day 1. All verses are quoted from The Message unless otherwise noted.