How to Find Hope When Affliction Enters Advent

Advent is a time for celebrating, but sometimes affliction enters. How can we find hope in the midst of Advent when we’re facing affliction?

Advent
A time of joy and rejoices
A time to hear laughter from little voices
A time to see smiling faces
A time to shop at different places
A time for gifting and wrapping
A time for singing and clapping
A time for baking sugar delights
A time for turning on blinking lights
A time for fun and festive things
After all we’re celebrating the birth of a special King

Advent is one of my favorite seasons. It’s filled with fun and anticipation. The hustle and bustle to decorate, buy gifts for loved ones, send Christmas cards, listen to Christmas music like “Joy to the World” and “Jingle Bells Rock” are just a few favorites I love during this special time of year.

But this Advent season is also filled with affliction. 

Within the last month I’ve learned of many people enduring terrible affliction:

• A baby boy born with a disease where he can’t make his own red blood cells
• A young mother who after being sick and hospitalized most of her pregnancy, miscarried her sweet little girl
• A writer friend who lost a close friend to Covid
• Someone’s grandma’s lung cancer returned
• An eight-year old girl who beat leukemia as a baby now has Pediatric ME/CFS (a horrible type of chronic fatigue syndrome)
• A dear friend whose knees are torn and produce suffering pain
• A relative who was just diagnosed with leukemia

And just last night I learned: 

• A long-time friend has been diagnosed with a quick-growing melanoma that has already spread

This morning, I wrestled with this darkness in the darkness.

The sun doesn’t rise very early in December in Minnesota. Rising early (4:30 a.m.) you learn it doesn’t just feel like nighttime, it looks like nighttime.

This Advent season is both feeling and looking like nighttime too.

How do we find hope in the midst of affliction during Advent?

Hope Comes Through the King

As I bowed my head this morning seeking the King’s throne on behalf of all these listed and more, I asked Him, “How can I encourage people today?”

His answer:
New Mercies!
Every. Single. Day.
New Mercies!
Tell them I have new mercies every morning for them.

Friends, the King has spoken!

Jesus’ mercies are new every morning! They never come to an end! Now that’s a gift that keeps on giving!

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

~ Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV

When I read these words, my sad and troubled heart filled once again with hope. Our King, our God, our Savior Jesus never stops gifting us with His mercies. He brings new mercies every. single. day.

And…

His love never stops.
His mercies never stop.
His faithfulness never stops.

Even in the midst of affliction during Advent, Jesus brings hope.

The Lord is full compassion and mercy.

~James 5:11b, NIV

When I think about my own personal afflictions throughout the years, the Lord Jesus has been faithful to me. His love has endured. He’s provided new mercies every single day.

Celebrating Advent and the Gift of New Mercies

When we are celebrating this Advent season, let’s remember God’s greatest gift of all to us:  Jesus Himself.

But let’s also remember those who are suffering afflictions. This Advent season maybe the greatest gift we can give is compassion and mercy too. 

Let’s remember our daily dose of new mercies is just waiting for us.

When we wake up in the morning, let’s anticipate the King’s new mercies. Let’s choose to believe Him that He has new mercies to give us every single day.

There is hope in the midst of affliction. We have a mighty King, who loves to love us, who loves to bestow His mercies on us every day, and who is faithful to us. 

Today, let’s anticipate His new mercies. Let’s look for them. Let’s thank Him for them today. 

He’s already given new mercies to me today. He’s reminded me:

• There’s hope in the midst of affliction because He’s alive
• He’s full of compassion and mercy
• Nothing is impossible with Him
• He’s taking care of all those mentioned above
• I can trust Him 

King Jesus has new mercies each morning for us! Let us celebrate our King Jesus and the gift of His new mercies.