Hope in Waiting - Advent Devotional Day 4

Scripture
"A child is born to us, a son is given to us,
    and authority will be on his shoulders.
    He will be named
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6

Reflection
How many times as a kid did someone ask you, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I imagine a lot. You probably had some pretty good answers that evolved over time. When I ask my 10-year-old son this question, he says he wants to be a famous YouTuber. (Times have really changed since I was a kid!) My knee jerk reaction is to tell him all the reasons that this is unrealistic, and I’ve got quite a few. Why do I do this? What is the harm in him hoping for something? If I am honest, it is because it scares me. If he hopes too much or dreams too big, he might get disappointed.  

I wonder if the people in Jesus’ life or the first people who heard this prophecy in Isaiah questioned whether it was realistic for a child to become “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace?” So much hope rested on the Messiah coming and yet the people were to expect a child. They had to wait and see how this would unfold. They had to wait and see if Jesus would really become all the things that were promised. I imagine they had similar fears that I do, “What if after all the waiting, it doesn’t turn out like I hoped?”

Waiting for what we hope for is hard and takes faith. It is risky. For me, I can only tolerate the waiting by having faith that God is working far beyond what I can see. It becomes easier when my hope is in God, not a specific outcome. As you read this today, what are you waiting for? Are there hopes you have that require faith to hold onto? Is your hope in God or in a particular outcome?

Prayer
God of Hope, there are so many dreams we have - whether for ourselves, our loved ones, our communities, or our world. Give us strength to hold onto hope when despair is at our doorstep. Give us eyes to see the ways that you are working far beyond what we can imagine. Give us perseverance and peace in our waiting. God, we place our hope in you. 

In the name of Jesus who is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace. Amen.