Hope of Aid
By Anthony Casperson
12-9-23

Among the catchphrases that we see splayed across banners during this time of the year, the word “hope” stands as a lesser representative. Yet it still does find a place among other favorites, such as joy, peace, and love. After all, Jesus is called the Hope of Israel. He’s also the One in whom our hope of a right relationship with God rests.

We also see the word in the sense of hoping to be home for Christmas. Or what we desire to get done over the holidays. And in our more selfish moments, we might even consider what’s on our wish list.

But these latter examples fall into the same common trap as we so often do when we think about hope. Our constant definition of hope is an expectation of future change. Our expectation is to be where we want to be, or do what we want to do, or receive what we want as a present.

Do you see the common thread there? We want something to be true, and then we call it our hope when we expect to get it. Yet there’s still the chance that such expectations might get dashed. A blizzard keeps us from getting home. Or our plans fall through. And sometimes disappointment hits us as we’re surrounded by every present except the one we desperately wanted.

The problem with hope like this is that it makes us have doubts about the ability of God and the hope he provides. His hope which never fails. The hope that stands confidently in the security of God and the surety of his steadfast love.

Notice that this isn’t a guarantee that everything is always going to get better. Nor is it a promise that every expectation we have about life will be met just because we remain faithful to God. He’s not some genie just waiting to grant us our every wish.

What we stand confidently in isn’t that we’ll always have a healthy and happy life. Rather, we stand confidently that we have a God who will come to our aid by giving us the strength to go through whatever trial and trouble we have to face. We have a God who doesn’t leave us just because we hit a rough patch. He’s there with us.

We have Immanuel, who stands ready to come to our aid when needed, so that we can continue. And he’s ready because he’s experienced similar troubles and trials.

In Isaiah 50:4-10, we witness a prophecy that the Servant—Jesus—will need the Father’s aid in his human existence too. Verse 6, specifically, reminds us very much of Jesus’ first coming. It says that the Servant gave his back to those who strike and his cheek to those who tore out his beard. And he didn’t hide his face from those who slung disgraceful words at him, or those who spit at him.

Throughout his time enfleshed in humanity—and especially at the cross—Jesus suffered many difficulties and trials. He needed the aid of the Father. Twice, in both verse 7 and verse 9, the Servant says that the Lord aided him. And because the Father aided him, Jesus was able to withstand the disgrace hurled at him by his enemies. And was proven to be innocent. The God who is near vindicated him.

And in the very same way, Jesus is the God who can aid us in our own troubles and difficulties. He knows how to sustain the weary—as verse 4 says—because he was sustained in his own weariness.

Thus, we can live up to the application found in verse 10. We who fear the Lord and obey the voice of his Servant can walk in the darkness and troubles of this world without fear, all because we rely on our God in the midst of it.

Our Savior isn’t going to fail to aid us. He’s always going to be by our side during every single problem of life. But that doesn’t guarantee that we’ll always receive our expectations.

So this year, when we think about the hope of the season, let’s stop thinking about expectations that may or may not come to pass. Instead, let’s focus on the God who will stand by us in every season of our lives.