The Power of Advent: Finding Hope and Light in Times of Crisis

The Power of Advent in Times of Global Crisis

Advent is a season of waiting, anticipation, and preparation for the coming of Christ. It is a time to reflect on the hope, joy, peace, and love that Christ brings to the world. But what happens when the world is in crisis? When darkness seems to be all around us? When hopelessness and fear threaten to overwhelm us?

In the midst of a global pandemic, economic uncertainty, political upheaval, and social unrest, Advent takes on a new significance. It reminds us that even in the darkest of times, the light of Christ shines bright. It offers us a way to find hope, peace, and joy in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.

The Darkness of Our Times

The year 2020 was marked by a global pandemic, racial tensions, political division, economic instability, and natural disasters. It was a year that tested our faith, our resilience, and our humanity. Many of us experienced loss, grief, anxiety, and depression. We saw the frailty of our health care systems, the fragility of our economies, and the deep-seated injustices of our societies.

The darkness of our times can be overwhelming. It can make us feel helpless, hopeless, and alone. It can lead us to despair, to anger, and to apathy. But it is precisely in these moments that we need the light of Christ to shine the brightest.

The Light of Advent

Advent reminds us that Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12). He is the one who brings hope, joy, peace, and love to a broken and hurting world. He is the one who overcomes the darkness and the powers of evil (Colossians 1:13-14). He is the one who is with us always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

During Advent, we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, but we also look forward to his second coming. We are reminded that Christ has already come to save us, but he will come again to restore all things. This hope gives us the strength and courage to face the challenges of our times, knowing that our ultimate destiny is in Christ.

The Practices of Advent

Advent is not just a season of waiting and anticipation; it is also a season of preparation and transformation. It is a time to reflect on our lives, our faith, and our relationships. It is a time to repent of our sins, to renew our commitment to Christ, and to reach out to others in love and compassion.

There are several practices that can help us to engage with the spirit of Advent:

1. Prayer

Prayer is a way to connect with God and to align our hearts with his. It is a way to express our hopes, fears, joys, and sorrows to God, and to listen for his voice. During Advent, we can pray for the world, for our communities, for our families, and for ourselves. We can pray for healing, for peace, for justice, and for the coming of Christ.

2. Scripture Reading

Scripture is the Word of God that speaks to us in every season of life. During Advent, we can read the prophecies of the coming Messiah in the Old Testament, the stories of the birth of Christ in the Gospels, and the teachings of Christ and his apostles in the New Testament. We can meditate on the meaning of Christ's birth, life, death, and resurrection, and on the hope and promise of his second coming.

3. Worship

Worship is a way to express our love and adoration for God. During Advent, we can participate in corporate worship, whether in-person or online, and join with other believers in singing, praying, and hearing the Word of God. We can also engage in personal worship, through music, art, or other creative expressions of our faith.

4. Giving

Giving is a way to express our love and generosity to others. During Advent, we can give to those in need, whether through financial donations, volunteering, or acts of kindness. We can reach out to our neighbors, our friends, and our families, and share the love of Christ with them.

The Hope of Advent

Advent is a season of hope. It reminds us that no matter how dark our times may be, there is always hope in Christ. He is the one who has overcome the world (John 16:33), and he is the one who will make all things new (Revelation 21:5). He is the one who will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore (Revelation 21:4).

This hope is not just a wishful thinking or a naive optimism. It is a firm and confident assurance that is grounded in the promises of God. It is a hope that sustains us in the midst of trials and tribulations, and that gives us the strength to persevere and to overcome.

The Challenge of Advent

Advent is also a season of challenge. It challenges us to confront the darkness within ourselves and in our world. It challenges us to repent of our sins, to renounce the idols of our culture, and to seek the kingdom of God above all else. It challenges us to live lives of holiness, righteousness, and love, and to bear witness to the truth and grace of Christ.

Advent is a call to action. It calls us to be agents of transformation in our world, to work for justice, to pursue peace, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. It calls us to live in the light of Christ, and to let that light shine through us, so that others may see our good works and give glory to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

The Promise of Advent

Advent is a season of promise. It promises us that Christ is coming again, and that he will make all things new. It promises us that the darkness will not overcome the light, and that the light will shine in the darkness. It promises us that God is faithful, and that he will fulfill all his promises to us.

As we enter a new year, let us hold fast to the hope, joy, peace, and love that Christ brings. Let us prepare ourselves for his coming, and let us live in the power of his Spirit. Let us be the light of the world, shining in the darkness, and pointing others to the true light that gives life.

References

• John 8:12 - "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”


• Colossians 1:13-14 - "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."


• Matthew 28:20 - "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”


• John 16:33 - "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”


• Revelation 21:4 - "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”


• Matthew 5:16 - "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."