Glimmer of Hope

Published November 30, 2021 by Carey Cannon

Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love are the weekly themes of each Advent season. Of the four, hope is the only focus whereby the measure of "how much" is perhaps inconsequential. 

No one ever wants a little bit of peace, a drop of joy, or a morsel of love. You can never have too much peace. Whether peace within our hearts or peace for the entire world, the more peace the better. The same can be said for joy. David said in Psalm 16 that "in God's presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures evermore." So too is said of love. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other. (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

Yet I'm reminded of the familiar phrase, a glimmer of hope.

The smallest amount of hope is enough to change any circumstance. Our Advent theme, "Light and Life to All He Brings" is taken from Charles Wesley's carol "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." Think on the times in your life when you have been surrounded by complete and utter darkness... only to find a match or the smallest flicker of light dispelling that darkness. 

That is hope. It comes to us in times of despair when we are hanging on with all we have, wondering how we will make it through. It is that small flicker of light that provides direction—a place to set our gaze. Hope is a small child born in a manger to shatter the darkness and to usher in a peace for the world, fullness of joy, and love overflowing.