Advent: Hope in the Waiting by Wycliffe Bible TranslatorsSample

The Season of Hope

The Christmas carol “O Holy Night” captures the heart of Advent: “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.” But what if hope feels distant? What if waiting has worn you down?

Advent is a season of anticipation — a time to prepare your heart and celebrate the coming of Christ. It reminds you that hope isn’t just wishful thinking; it’s a confident expectation rooted in God’s faithfulness.

In the Bible, the Hebrew qavah and yachal and the Greek elpis are words for “hope” that convey a sense of active, dynamic trust in God’s promises.

Hope is anchored in God’s character. The Hebrew word qavah means “to wait, look for, hope and expect.” Lamentations 3:25 (NIV) reflects this: “The Lord is good to those whose hope (qavah) is in him, to the one who seeks him.”

Other translations focus on different meanings — the NKJV translates the phrase as “those who wait for Him,” while The Message uses “passionately waits” and “quietly hope.” These variations reveal the deep connection between hope and waiting.

Biblical hope is not passive; it’s active trust in God’s faithfulness during your waiting.

The people of Israel understood waiting. For centuries, they longed for the Messiah. The Old Testament foretold Christ’s coming, but between the prophet Malachi and the angel’s announcement to Mary, 400 years of silence challenged their faith. Yet even in the waiting, God was working. Waiting is never wasted when it’s rooted in trust. Advent is a reminder that even in uncertainty, God is near. His faithfulness in the past gives confidence for the future.

As you journey through Advent, take time to engage with the following four readings, one each week, and reflect on those who witnessed Jesus’ birth — their waiting, their trust and the hope they found in Him. Let their stories remind you that hope is not found in perfect circumstances but in a faithful God.

Reflection:

• Was Advent part of your childhood church or family traditions? Has your understanding or celebration of the season changed over the years?
• Going into this Advent season, what does your worship and devotion reveal about your trust in God?
• God invites you to trust Him and His promises while you wait. What promise is He asking you to focus on right now with great hope and expectation?