Prisms of Hope

"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." Matthew 1:23

I was studying the book of Ruth preparing for Advent worship. I looked away to my computer, and when my gaze returned to the Bible, a beautiful prism had appeared on the page! The Word of God illuminated by the prism reminded me of the rainbow of hope that God promised in Genesis. It reminded me that God is with me. God is with us.

As we journey through Advent and prepare for Christmas Eve, we are guided by our hope in Emmanuel, “God with us.” As we enter this holy weekend of Advent 4 and Christmas Eve, God is truly with us and shows up in unexpected ways. Look for the prisms of hope that bring hope, peace, joy, and love in this season that also brings despair, grief, and anxiety for many people. We have a Savior who knows our suffering and our joy and brings us hope. How can you be a prism of hope that shines light into another’s darkness? Where do you see God with us? Hang on to the promise from Matthew that Jesus is the Son of God, Emmanuel, God with us -- always. May the prayer of Howard Thurman, who was full of grace, be a way to peace and joy through our hope in Christ.

Let us pray: 

Open unto me—light for my darkness.

Open unto me—courage for my fear.

Open unto me—hope for my despair.

Open unto me—peace for my turmoil.

Open unto me—joy for my sorrow.

Open unto me—strength for my weakness.

Open unto me—wisdom for my confusion.

Open unto me—forgiveness for my sins.

Open unto me—tenderness for my toughness.

Open unto me—love for my hates.

Open unto me—Thy Self for my self.

Lord, Lord, open unto me!

—from “Meditations of the Heart” by Howard Thurman

Hope abounds, Pastor Andrea