The Comfort of Hope

1/12/2021

A Reflection on the Psalm for December 5th, 2021:
Second Sunday of Advent

Psalm 126

R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy.

R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.

R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the desert of the Negev. May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.

R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

A reminder of happier times. A hope for those happier times to return.

As I sit here, I’m struggling with grief. I’m one of those weeping as I bear my seed for sowing. Bearing the seed for sowing because the world keeps turning, even when I can’t understand why the whole world hasn’t stopped for a moment of silence for this moment of grief. While the world will take a moment to grieve celebrities, our own personal grief remains just that, personal. It is ours to endure without fanfare or a slowing of the break-neck pace of life.

As people of faith, we have solace even in these dark days. The seed that we carry out for sowing in our grieving is the seed of joy we plant alongside our loved ones laid to rest. We ease our hearts with the truth of God’s promise. God has promised to bring to new life those who He loves. That promise is like a stream in the desert.

A promise of happier times: A reunion in the Kingdom. Love that doesn’t end when an earthly life ends, but rather deepens and expands within the heart of God. Love that will receive us when we too complete our earthly journey.

That doesn’t mean we are not, as Christians, allowed to grieve. Let’s not forget that, even knowing that Lazarus’ resurrection would come shortly, Jesus wept. He gives us permission to believe and trust in the resurrection while still accepting the grief that is part of our human nature. If death is part of the human condition, then so too is grief. If resurrection is part of God’s promise, then with our grief comes the comfort of hope.

So, I grieve. And I hope.

Stephanie Potter

8 Comments

Alana

1/12/2021 06:51:17 am

Thank you Steph for sharing this beautiful, vulnerable part of your heart. I remember when it first truly sunk in that grief was ok (as opposed to being somehow a reflection of a lack of faith and trust on my part) - I was preparing a talk for youth ministry a couple years ago - and it was this passage about Lazarus - and I realized - Jesus grieved - even though He KNEW with certainty that He was going to raise Lazarus right afterwards. That realization has given me such great comfort since then - and more confidence that whatever I’m feeling is valid - and doesn’t take away my hope, trust, and certainty that something better is coming (unless I let it) - the truth is the resurrection always follows the cross - either in this world or the next - because our God is faithful to His promises - and we know that He has already won. Lord, help me to always remember this and bless all of us with Your peace, comfort, and hope when we grieve. Amen! 😊🙏🏻💕xo

Stephanie Potter

1/12/2021 08:03:54 am

Thank you, Alana. I think you've said what is on my heart better than I can! :)

Kendra

2/12/2021 12:04:22 am

Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability, Stephanie. I think that any grieving process is particularly challenging to journey through in this season - especially as our culture rushes to celebrate Christmas in all the most material ways, rather than contemplating the heart of it in the spirit of waiting on the Lord. It can be easy to become so distracted that we forget (or fail to even notice) that we have brothers and sisters who are in need of support, accompaniment, prayers, and quiet times and spaces to listen to God and receive His hope and consolation.

I'm praying for you, sister. (PS. I hope our paths will cross sometime soon, as I've been wanting to connect for a long while! I hear your name all the time (e.g. from Alana, haha), but I don't think we've had a real chance to chat).

2/12/2021 07:08:56 am

Agreed! I think we often miss the grief of others in our search for the joy of Christmas. How can we help those around us feel the same joy while also letting them feel supported in the bittersweetness of the moment? Mary is a great example to me because of course her joy for the Saviour is intermingled with her knowledge of the painful middle of His story.

Yes! We absolutely should make a point to meet!!

Suzanne LeBlanc

2/12/2021 06:57:42 am

The joy and hope found in where grief is not allowed or even acknowledged is very shallow and quick to dissipate. Thank you for sharing and for leading us into the deep joy and hope of this season. ❤️🙏🏻❤️

2/12/2021 07:09:46 am

Thank you Suzanne. So well said!

Lisa Matheson

3/12/2021 06:59:28 am

I love the beautiful juxtaposition of so many aspects of this faith live. How God can be fully divine and yet fully human. Also, how we can feel the weight of grief, while still having total Hope. This makes me feel like a more integrated person - knowing that my feelings are real and are very much ok. Thank you for this reflection Stephanie. I will pray for your grieving heart today. 🙏🏼💖

3/12/2021 07:24:53 am

So well said! A God who can be human and divine can withstand being a both and in other areas too. We live in that space too - in this world but not of it; grieving in hope; redeemed but striving - allowing those things to share space in our being draws us nearer to God.