Here’s a powerful opening to our Advent week of hope:

One day Jesus taught the apostles to keep praying and never stop or lose hope. …Don’t you know that God, the true judge, will grant justice to all of his chosen ones who cry out to him night and day? He will pour out his Spirit upon them. He will not delay to answer you and give you what you ask for. God will give swift justice to those who don’t give up. So be ever praying, ever expecting, just like the widow was with the judge. (Luke 18.1, 6 – 8, Passion Translation)

As I write this, we have a close friend fighting COVID for her life. Our challenge is to keep praying and never stop or lose hope. Simeon didn’t lose hope.

In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him. (Luke 2.25, MSG)

Zechariah did lose hope, but God worked through him anyway.

Zachariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me to believe [that my wife and I will have a son]? I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.” (Luke 1.18, MSG)

One of Jesus’ ancestors was a man of hope, also, finally.

[Abraham] didn’t tiptoe around God’s promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. (Romans 4.20, 21, MSG)

P.S. When I drafted this about a week ago, there was a strong possibility that our friend with COVID would not survive. I’m ecstatic to report that she turned the corner and will be discharged soon. Keep praying and never stop or lose hope!