Week 1: Hope
Good afternoon! Our devotional writer for today is Anna Breck. Anna is a senior from Bonne Terre, Missouri, majoring in Mathematics with an Actuarial concentration. I got to know Anna as a freshman in my UNLF class where she quickly stood out as an exceptional student. I was fortunate that I was able to continue to work with her as she got involved in the TCU Wesley, one of our campus ministries. Before long the Wesley saw that same giftedness in her and asked her to serve on their leadership team, where she currently serves as the President. It’s been truly wonderful to see Anna grow over the course of her four years here, and to see her emerge as an exceptional student leader. I hope her words for us today invite you to hit pause in the midst of this busy season and focus on the things that matter.
Psalm 62: 5-6
My soul, wait silently for God, for my hope is in him. He only is my rock and my salvation.
He is my refuge; I will not be moved.
REFLECTION
The Christmas season is stressful. With all the planning, decorating, and shopping, it feels like our to-do list never gets any shorter. Add to that the busiest time in our collegiate year, the end of the semester. Our brains are being pushed to the limit as regularly scheduled exams and assignments end and finals begin. Professors diligently work to write exams encompassing 16 weeks’ worth of material into one document as students try to recall all 16 weeks’ worth of said material. It is easy to lose hope.
We lose hope that we can bring up a grade, make it through the semester, or even get all the gifts before time to distribute them to our loved ones. However, during advent, we are called to renew our hope in Christ. We are called to reset from the busyness of our lives during the season.
Taking time to sit and wait patiently for the Lord isn’t something we typically add to our four page to-do list, but shouldn’t we? Taking the time to sit quietly, pray, and listen to the Lord will help us reset during this advent season and find our hope in Christ. We can use this time to learn more about our Father or even take time to pray for our fellow students struggling with their studies. Let us challenge ourselves this advent to pencil in time with Christ and renew our sights on hope in him.
Let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Help us to take time for you during this busy season. May we renew our hope in you and feel the peace that your love bring us. Help us to see the reason for the season. Amen
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