Hope Rekindled
November 30, 2025
Sometimes hope gets quiet, but it never disappears. Like Zechariah, we can find ourselves stuck between longing and doubt, wondering if God is still moving or if the future is still possible. Advent reminds us that God rekindles hope not by removing uncertainty but by meeting us in it, steadying us with His faithfulness, and preparing us for what He’s already bringing to life.
READ
Luke 1:11-20, 24-25
Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified, and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.
REFLECT
1. Where in your life or in our church do you feel the “Zechariah tension”—the space between longing and disbelief?
2. How has God been faithful to you in ways you didn’t recognize until later?
3. What part of your heart needs quieting so hope can grow again?
RESPOND
1. Practice a moment of quiet each day, a few minutes of silence to let God reset your expectations and rekindle hope.
2. Name one place where you’ve seen God’s faithfulness this year and share it with someone or write it down as a reminder that hope has a history.
3. Take a step of hopeful participation: pray for the future of our church, serve in a small way, or give as an act of trust, choosing to invest in what God is growing even before you see the results.