Hoping in the Midst of Struggle

Rev. Joel St. Clair
Isaiah 43:1-7

Even in the midst of difficulty, God promises his people that he is watching over them. He beckons them to trust and to not be afraid, for the coming Savior will protect them. Jesus, the savior who arrived two thousand years ago, extends this promise to all peoples from all corners of the earth. By faith, we have hope of his presence today, as well as a hope for a future where we will be safe in the presence of God for all of eternity.

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Advent is rooted in the idea that we live between two arrivals – Jesus’s first advent in the incarnation and the second advent when he will return as King to bring about justice and restoration. The two arrivals (advents) mean that the Christian life plays out in the in-between. We may look back and learn from those who waited for the first advent as instructive for us today in waiting for His second advent.

The prophet Isaiah is proclaiming the unique greatness of YHWH to a people tempted by idols, allured by foreign powers, and distracted from God’s call to covenant faithfulness. And so his prophecy is a mix of warning and hope in the midst of many difficult circumstances (including the impending defeat of the Assyrian army and the foretelling (?) of the Babylonian captivity). In the midst of these circumstances, he calls the people to wait and hope on the Lord. It’s a practice the church continues today.