Finding Hope

"...She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means 'God is with us')." Isaiah 7:14

In The Comfort Book by Matt Haig, he highlights some of his favorite things (with a concentration on hope and inspiration). I like his essay “Somewhere”: he focuses on hope by considering the song Somewhere Over the Rainbow, sung by Judy Garland in the movie The Wizard of Oz (link below to the song). He describes how the song goes up an octave, an “actual musical rainbow”. He continues: “Hope always involves a soaring and a reaching. Hope flies. The thing with feathers, as Emily Dickinson said.” Matt thinks that it’s almost easier to feel hopeful when times are difficult, because hope is one of the things we can cling to. As a Christian, I would add that hope comes when we trust in God's promises. To be hopeful, he finds, you just “need to understand that things will change. Hope is available for us all.” Again, as Christians, we have hope that God is with us through life's challenges until "things change".

Coincidentally, a few weeks after finishing Matt’s book I started reading the novel Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts. Letts takes on the true story of the author of The Wizard of Oz, Frank Baum, and his wife, Maud. The book moves between 1938 in Hollywood, when the film was made, and the years that Frank and Maud were together (when he wrote his masterpiece). I loved the book and its message of perseverance and hope in the face of adversity (I won’t add any spoilers here: you’ll just need to read the book or research the lives of Frank and Maud Baum!) Incidentally, one of the defining features of the novel is Maud’s determination that the song Somewhere Over the Rainbow was sung just right…with a sense of hopefulness and earnestness. In the book, Maud believes that Judy Garland did it perfectly. If you listen below (and recall the song from the movie), you'll probably agree. 

Advent is a season of hope. Hope in a savior come in the form of a baby, born into humble beginnings. In addition to the verse above, I’ve included more on hope below.

For I know the plans I have for you. declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17  

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3  

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:24-25

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Luke 1:26-38

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for sending your son, Jesus. Thank you for the hope of advent, and the promise of your son, Immanuel, God with us. Amen.

Donna Gustafson

click here to see Judy Garland sing