I can’t help but think of the hope we have in Jesus as the Advent season is about to begin.
Here’s one of my favorite versions of this song, click here.
What does hopeful anticipation look like when you’re worn out and weary?
As we approach this year’s season of advent, the ultimate season of waiting, I think about the season of life I’m in right now. So much has happened this past year.
This time last year I was a few months out from my second cancer reconstruction surgery and getting used to the new normal “me.”
This time last year I was about to miscarry, there was no heartbeat but we still waited for weeks with hope that we’d see one.
This time last year we were brand new to the hearing loss world for John and his right ear was constantly changing and getting a cochlear implant became a possible reality.
This time last year I was delaying hormone medicine for cancer treatment to get pregnant and trying my best to stay healthy “naturally” since I wasn’t taking the meds.
Now, the new normal is still not normal after a double-mastectomy and reconstruction. I’m not sure if it will ever be, but I’m grateful that I don’t have to live with the fear of cancer returning. (It still can, but the chance is less.)
Now, I’m not holding a newborn, but I have an amazing 3.5 year old who is the light and joy of our lives. I am so thankful that I get to snuggle him and soak up this time with him until we one day have more.
Now, John has a cochlear implant. Much sooner than we anticipated last year, but it has been the biggest blessing and he is doing so well!
Now, I’ve been on hormone treatment for almost a year! Some days it’s awful, other days it’s exhausting, but most days I’m just fine. I’m definitely not who I was a year ago physically. I’m more tired, emotional, and just generally feel “old,” but I’m so thankful it’s not that bad. I can function and it’s keeping cancer away. Thanks be to God!
Life… we’re constantly anticipating, waiting, hoping for something else, something new, maybe even something to go wrong. This year, I’ve learned that in the waiting (for a baby, for improved hearing which resulted in no improvement at all, then improved speech progress after John’s surgery, for the cancer to not ever come back…) that this is where the growth happens. This is where I see God work the most for me. In the everyday, in the hard and the normal. But, also in the hurting. I’ll never understand why God allows his people to hurt, but I will always hold on the the truth that all of this pain and uncertainty has a purpose. I’ll always go back to scripture, in John 9:3 where Jesus said …“this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
The anticipation of this advent season is about the “the thrill of hope” the birth of our King Jesus. Knowing that all of this pales in comparison to God’s plan. I have to be hopeful because He is the source of hope. There’s just no other choice.
Back to my original thought I was pondering in the beginning… how do I stay hopeful with anticipation when I’m worn out and weary? Aren’t we all worn out and weary to some degree with just life? I don’t know if I can change that, but I can change my perspective. I won’t know why these things happened to us in our short time on earth, but I will wait in hopeful anticipation for the day when it will all be right. In the meantime, I will make my waiting worth it. I will be hopeful. I will grateful. Despite the toughness of life and all that it involves. Despite the unknown and future troubles. My hope is in Jesus, always. Thankfully, I can focus on this season in the hopeful anticipation of celebrating His birth, which changed ours lives forever. ❤️
One more link to a song that I just love and is hope filled, click here.
Romans 15:13
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 8:24-25
24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
2 Corinthians 4: 16-18
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self[d] is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Colossians 1:24 – 29
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
Let your hope be in Jesus Christ, our Savior, this Advent season. ❤️
Carly Wisnewski 