A Comforting Hope

Our brothers and sisters at the Austin Stone have collected some prayers for the winter months. One of these was entitled “Missing the Heart of Christmas.” 

I know I should feel joyful. Everything I see tells me so. Signs and cards say “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays.” Christmas carols on every radio station, playing in every store, sing to me of the wonders of winter, tell me to be of good cheer.

I know I should feel peaceful. Everywhere I go, peace abounds. Glowing signs in yards proclaim it: “On Earth.” People I have never met smile and greet me with affection. Sons reach out to estranged fathers, daughters call mothers, offering forgiveness.

But despite these reminders, O God, joy and peace elude my soul. Though I should feel You are nearer than I have ever felt, I am too laden with busyness, too surrounded by bustle, too bombarded with demands and concerns to find You in all of this.

Sit, You say to me, and rest for a time. Withdraw, Your voice whispers, to a quiet place. Away from the flashing lights, clinking sounds; away from shiny presents, luxurious foods, and raucous laughter. Remember, You say to me, It was the Father’s will that I come to be near you.

I know I could feel anxious. For though You are near, much can seem nearer. This year’s losses: jobs, friends, loved ones, time. This year’s sorrows, as old and deep as buried bones. All vie with Your truth for my attention and affection. All reach for my heart.

I know I could feel lost. The season means many things to many people. For some, the season is about simplicity. For some, excess. For some, vacation from work. For some, overwork. For some, togetherness with family. For some, absence. 

But for all of us, the true meaning is Your presence.

In the midst of this cacophony, Father, Your truth is a clear, beautiful note. My heart is not led astray by the world’s sirens. You have not let it be, O faithful God. You have held it close, sung to it calming lullabies, as would a mother singing to a newborn in a manger. 

Sit, You say, and rest for a time. Be still, be quiet, be near. In this, my joy and peace is found. In You, and nothing else. (The Austin Stone Community Church, Words for Winter, 2020)

Today, we step into the season of Advent. Advent is a church word that means “coming.” And, in these four weeks leading up to Christmas, we are taking time to be still, be quiet, and be near the truth that our God became flesh, that Jesus came to earth for us. For the next four Sundays, we’ll focus on a word. “Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love” will be the rubric we use to think about Jesus coming and one day coming again. This first week, we’re thinking about hope, and the reason I chose this particular prayer to open with is because hope emerges in a context.

Today, we’re jumping into Isaiah 40. I’m skipping over 39 chapters of material to jump into some familiar verses. You might recognize that Isaiah 40 is how Handel began his masterpiece, The Messiah. It’s an exciting choice, really. This year, I felt it was timely because the opening words of Isaiah 40 are what we need: words of comfort. Ray Ortlund sets the scene for us: “[Isaiah] is speaking to the Jewish people held in Babylonian exile in the sixth century B.C. The dire prediction of Isaiah 39:5–7 came true. Now, God’s people, in degrading captivity far from their home in the promised land, fear that God has abandoned them, so Isaiah changes the tone of his ministry. His primary emphasis in chapters 1–39 was confrontation (cf. 1:4). Now his primary emphasis is comfort (cf. 40:1). The prophet longs for the people to become confident that God’s gracious purpose for them is deeper than their worst betrayals of him. Their future is still bright—even brighter than before.” And I find myself identifying with these people. Looking back on 2024, unfortunately, many of the mistakes I’ve made at times sound louder than the moments I got it right. I’m tempted to forget how bright my future is. Simply put, I need some hope as I transition into a new year.

This elusive hope may be the case for you, too, today. You may barely be hanging on, thinking you can’t endure much more. You may be wondering why God doesn’t come through and answer your prayers. You may struggle to find hope amid a situation you are facing. And today, Isaiah would like a word with us. He has a message from God that centers on Jesus and points us to hope. No matter what you bring into this room today, I hope you lean in for comforting hope. Join me as we see 3 ways God builds hope in His people…

Read Isaiah 40 (This is God’s Word; thanks be to God)

3 ways God builds hope into His people…

First of all, I. He comforts us when we’re far off. (1-11)

1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

and cry to her

that her warfare is ended,

that her iniquity is pardoned,

that she has received from the LORD’s hand

double for all her sins.

3 A voice cries:

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD;

make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be lifted up,

and every mountain and hill be made low;

the uneven ground shall become level,

and the rough places a plain.

5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,

and all flesh shall see it together,

for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

6 A voice says, “Cry!”

And I said, “What shall I cry?”

All flesh is grass,

and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers, the flower fades

when the breath of the LORD blows on it;

surely the people are grass.

8 The grass withers, the flower fades,

but the word of our God will stand forever.

9 Go on up to a high mountain,

O Zion, herald of good news;

lift up your voice with strength,

O Jerusalem, herald of good news;

lift it up, fear not;

say to the cities of Judah,

“Behold your God!”

10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might,

and his arm rules for him;

behold, his reward is with him,

and his recompense before him.

11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;

he will gather the lambs in his arms;

he will carry them in his bosom,

and gently lead those that are with young.

Think about God’s kindness to you to come near to you. You were far off. We see this play out in these opening verses. In 39 chapters, Isaiah communicated that salvation does NOT come because of the nation’s Jewishness. NO. Salvation comes in a King. And, now we’re learning that this King will also be a Servant somehow, someway. Comfort is the opening word. This word is repeated for effect. Comfort, tender speaking, crying out to people with the news that their warfare is ended, iniquity is pardoned, and God has responded to their choice of sin. Again, Ray Ortlund puts it well: “There is always an end to God’s disciplining of us, but there is never an end to God’s comforts of us.” We get some voices as this call to speak words of comfort emerges.

In v.3, a voice tells us that God’s glory will be revealed and displayed for all to see. But the world isn’t quite ready for this, so a voice will speak to prepare the way. In the New Testament, many of you might recognize this voice being fulfilled in the person and work of John the Baptizer. He fulfilled this by preparing the world for the coming of Jesus. And, in this Advent season, might every heart prepare Him room so that heaven and nature may sing? The time for putting away sin and seeing the glory of the Lord is now.

In v.6, another voice reminds us that God’s purposes and promises will not fail. We have good intentions but often fail, as v.6 shows – we are like beautiful grass but withering. Flowers emerge but fade. And people are just like that. God isn’t, though. What God has said has staying power and will last. 

And, in vv.9-11, we are invited to “Behold our God.” God is not some aloof deity far off, but He will come near. His nearness will mean that He comes with might and power. But, it’s not all power and might; v. 11 tells us there’s a tenderness where He will scoop up His dear ones in His arms and gently lead. Grace and truth. Holiness and gentleness. This description smells like our Shepherd, Jesus Christ. God comes near to comfort His people far off, and the message points us to Jesus and His coming. Comfort is going to center in this Suffering Servant. 

Secondly, God brings comfort to us as II. His résumé shows He is capable. (12-26)

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand

and marked off the heavens with a span,

enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure

and weighed the mountains in scales

and the hills in a balance?

13 Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD,

or what man shows him his counsel?

14 Whom did he consult,

and who made him understand?

Who taught him the path of justice,

and taught him knowledge,

and showed him the way of understanding?

15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,

and are accounted as the dust on the scales;

behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.

16 Lebanon would not suffice for fuel,

nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering.

17 All the nations are as nothing before him,

they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.

18 To whom then will you liken God,

or what likeness compare with him?

19 An idol! A craftsman casts it,

and a goldsmith overlays it with gold

and casts for it silver chains.

20 He who is too impoverished for an offering

chooses wood that will not rot;

he seeks out a skillful craftsman

to set up an idol that will not move.

21 Do you not know? Do you not hear?

Has it not been told you from the beginning?

Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,

and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;

who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,

and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;

23 who brings princes to nothing,

and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.

24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,

scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,

when he blows on them, and they wither,

and the tempest carries them off like stubble.

25 To whom then will you compare me,

that I should be like him? says the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes on high and see:

who created these?

He who brings out their host by number,

calling them all by name;

by the greatness of his might

and because he is strong in power,

not one is missing.

In v.5, we were promised that the glory of the Lord would be revealed, and we see that played out here. God’s greatness means the measure of great things happens in the hollow of His hand. Who can counsel Him? He doesn’t need advice. He is unique and set apart in what He knows and understands. In vv.15-17, even the great nations are a drop in the bucket compared to Him; “He rules over all the world.” In vv.18-20, God is set apart from anything we could worship. In vv.21-24, we’re given a sense of His rule on display compared to other so-called impressive leaders in our world. God blows them like a dandelion that’s gone to seed, and they wither. And, the final picture of this section, in vv.25-26, God’s creative care is seen in watching over the stars. They are all just where God wants them to be. A video I saw this week alleged that there are more stars in the universe than words spoken in the history of our civilization (I’m not sure how we verify this as much as agreeing that our universe is far vaster than we envision). Couple a fact like this with v.26, and we see that God, their Creator, is way more powerful than we may imagine. So, when we’re languishing without hope, we’d do well to remember that we have a God who doesn’t have a gap in His credentials. He’s a God who can deliver and actually help us. And He’s done this by sending His Son at just the right time to rescue us. He’s a supremely capable God because, as the Creator, He rules and reigns gloriously.

Third and finally, God builds hope in us as III. He recognizes our need for hope. (27-31)

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,

and speak, O Israel,

“My way is hidden from the LORD,

and my right is disregarded by my God”?

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

his understanding is unsearchable.

29 He gives power to the faint,

and to him who has no might he increases strength.

30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,

and young men shall fall exhausted;

31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint.

As we wait for Him, we’re told He can surely deliver us, and He sees. “If God watches over every distant star (v. 26), how could he lose sight of even one of us (v. 27)? God’s greatness is big enough to care for all of us forever (v. 28). He stoops down to share his strength with the weak (v. 29). Human resilience at its best will inevitably fail (v. 30). But weak believers who keep looking to God in hope receive his miraculous strength to persevere (v. 31)” (Ortlund). As you find hope elusive, God sees where you are at. He recognizes that you can’t help yourself and you need Him. And, we get hope because of promises like this section. God will give power to those who are fainting. He will give strength to those with exhausted resources. As v.31 says, when we lean into Him and His resources, He comes through for us. Jesus promised us in the New Testament that He would be with us to the end of the age. So, no matter where you find yourself, God has the staying power to give you hope. If you’re at the end of yourself, you’re in a great place for God to show His power. Will you look to Him? Wait for Him? Trust in Him? Or dig deeper into your work and resources? God recognizes our need for hope and delivers as we believe in Him.

In conclusion, today we’ve seen 3 ways God builds hope into His people…

I. He comforts us when we’re far off. (1-11)

II. His résumé shows He is capable. (12-26)

III. He recognizes our need for hope. (27-31)

Working this passage in reverse, God sees the needs you have. He sees how hopeless and empty life can be. The initial readers were in this place, and God came through for them through His Suffering Servant King, Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus is, as one NT writer put it, able to save to the uttermost those who come to Him by faith. This season, will you build hope and receive God’s comfort by looking to Jesus Christ, turning from your ways to Him? Hope is found in Him.

Believers know that hope is found in God through Jesus, but we still find it elusive in life. And God communicates a passage like today so that you can know what He’s capable of. Would you stare long and hard at Him this holiday season? Consider His greatness. And, think of His greatness and gentleness getting a face in Jesus. God has come to earth for us. Today, our eyes could be on all kinds of things that would rob us of hope. I hope you look to Him today and press into knowing Him and making Him known. A comforting hope can be yours as you glorify and enjoy Him forever.