December 2
Jeremiah 33:14-16
14 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”
Biblical Hope
by Kristle Soto, M.S.
“I hope all of my gift orders get here before Christmas.”
“I hope I pass my exams.”
“I sure hope the pandemic is done.”
Secular hope is laced with doubt. It leaves room for an inevitable let down. It shows a lack of confidence in the outcome. HOPE, biblical HOPE, carries no doubt or question. HOPE in God carries no uncertainty. Biblical HOPE is something that is not present or seen, but that will surely take place.
God gave the people of Israel and Judah HOPE when He declared that a “Righteous Savior” would deliver them to safety. He provided that unseen certainty that they would be saved. Today, we have the benefit of knowing the outcome of this story. Jesus came to be their substitute and exchange our sin for his righteousness, perfectly verifying that God keeps his promises and that HOPE given by God is a sure thing. This verse perfectly illustrates that God is an active participant in our lives and that in the days ahead we will more clearly see what He has accomplished.
As we prepare our hearts for Advent, rest in the HOPE that God will fulfill his promise. No matter what you are facing, what burdens you carry, or the darkness you see in this broken world, Jesus comes, He has come, and He will come. This does not mean that your pain or struggles are unimportant, but rather that they are limited in reach because Christ is coming and has gifted us with HOPE for something better. Advent is a wonderful reminder of the before and after, so let us rejoice this Christmas.
“A thrill of HOPE; the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.” –O Holy Night
Learn More About Our Guest Writer
Kristle Soto, M.S., CCC-SLP
Kristle Soto joined the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders as clinical faculty in August of 2019. She provides supervision of graduate students within the speech and language clinic. Prior to joining Baylor University’s clinical faculty, Kristle’s 13 years of experience include the public schools and private pediatric setting. Her academic interests include social communication disorder, autism spectrum disorder, augmentative and alternative communication, and childhood speech and language development.
Her passion and interests lie in serving individuals with autism and helping them to reach their greatest potential. Kristle received her bachelor of arts degree from Baylor and her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Texas at Dallas. Kristle is married to Justin, and they have 2 young daughters.
