Good morning! We are so thankful to hear from Aisha Torrey-Sawyer who is the Director for the Center for Connection Culture here at TCU. Her devotion is heartfelt; we are so thankful for this message to conclude our first week of Advent together. –Rev. Katherine Wright
Luke 2:10-11
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”
Recently, a friend shared that she had been diagnosed with cancer. The news stunned me, as it had stunned her. I searched for the right words, yet all I could say was, “I’m so sorry.” My heart felt heavy, and I could sense the fear, uncertainty, and questions about why this was happening filling the space between us. During our conversation, my spirit quietly whispered, “Lord, protect her. Lord, heal her.” My faith and hope became a steady, silent rhythm in the background of our conversation.
Before we ended the call, I encouraged her to hold onto her faith, even when the path feels unclear. We often do not know why God allows certain trials, nor do we always see how He is working in the midst of them. What we do know is that He does not abandon us, His presence is constant, and His promises are true.
Every one of us encounters seasons that feel overwhelming, moments when the weight of life seems too much to bear. These experiences can drain our energy, shake our confidence, and cloud our sense of hope. Yet Isaiah reminds us that God’s strength lifts us above life’s challenges. Even the most faithful hearts may grow weary, but God never does. His power does not diminish. His care does not waver. His hope never fades.
Today, many forces can pull at our hope: personal challenges, family pressures, job uncertainty, academic stress, and the heartbreaking realities of our world including wars, political conflict, illness, homelessness, and the inequities that continue to burden many communities. Even the strongest among us can feel depleted. And when we are at our lowest, we may wonder how to continue believing that God is with us.
But the truth is this: God is never overwhelmed, never inattentive, and never too tired to hear our prayers. His strength becomes our strength. His faithfulness becomes our foundation. His hope keeps us centered.
In moments of darkness, may we remember that God’s presence shines as a steady beacon of light. As we lean into His promises and trust His plan, He renews our strength and fills us with hope that does not fade. Our hope is not rooted in circumstances but in the unchanging love and faithfulness of our God.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, we ask that You continue to be a source of our hope. Help us remember to call on You when we feel unsure about the future. Fuel our tanks with hopefulness, even when we look around and see situations that seem hopeless. We ask that we soar on wings like eagles and, as we run the race called life, and that we never grow weary or faint. Amen.