Advent Week One: Hope

By: Naomi Lapp, Volunteer Coordinator

Summer and fall are my favorite times of the year, especially since I have worked at camp. It tends to be easier for me to remain hopeful throughout these seasons because I am experiencing so many things and seeing God’s hand in everything around me. As summer fades into fall and fall into winter, I can talk myself out of the sadness that tends to come with those seasonal changes. However, time continues to slow down, and I begin to process all that has happened as the seasons close.

And then it happens, the first snow.

This immediately strikes happiness in my heart and brings an eerie silence over the woods. It is always so stunning to see everything blanketed in white and it makes me want to sit under a tree and watch every single snowflake fall. But it also feels like that little bit of summer and warmth that I manage to hold onto throughout fall is finally gone. And along with all that beauty and happiness of snow, I feel sad. But I am reminded, as many are, that these snowy winter days lead up to one of the most wonderful times of the year-Christmas! As Christmas lights go up, and family begins to make plans for the holidays, I am reminded of the reasons why we celebrate. The fulfillment of the promise of a savior is what gives me hope in this season.

Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (NIV). The fulfillment of the promise of a savior is what should give us hope this season. It rescues us from that sadness that might creep in and reminds us of his faithfulness in his promises and the hope we have in Christ