The Courage to Hope
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
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We are now entering the liturgical season of Advent (the four weeks preceding the birth of Jesus). The first week of Advent focuses on “hope.” Hope can feel like a hard thing to hold onto right now. The world feels heavy with division and uncertainty. In times like these, hope can sound like a luxury, even a denial of the real struggles we face. But true hope—the kind Advent calls us to—is not shallow optimism or spiritual bypassing. It’s a theological declaration, rooted in the reality of this broken world and God’s promise to love us into wholeness.
Hope is the assurance that, even in the darkest night, the light will come. It doesn’t ignore the challenges we face but meets them head-on, sustained by the belief that God is at work, even when we can’t see it yet. It is what keeps us moving, keeps us acting, keeps us striving for a world that reflects God’s justice, generosity, and love.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who wrote and preached during the dark days of Nazi Germany, described this kind of hope: “The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come.” Hope is not a denial of the pain we carry or the brokenness we see. It’s a refusal to let that brokenness have the last word.
Advent hope calls us to hold two truths at once: the world is not as it should be, and yet God is with us in the midst of it, drawing us toward what could be. This hope is not passive; it’s active. It calls us to participate in the work of transformation—to care for the hurting, to challenge injustice, to be vessels of love in a fractured world. Hope is not a retreat from reality; it’s an anchor in it, a commitment to work for a better future even when the present feels overwhelming.
As we light the first candle of Advent, let us hold onto this kind of hope. Let it inspire us to act, to create, to dream. Hope doesn’t require us to have all the answers or to feel optimistic every moment. It asks only that we trust in the promise of Emmanuel—God with us—and take the next faithful step toward the world we long to see.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
What challenges make it hard for me to hold hope right now?
Where am I being called to act on behalf of hope, creating a more just and generous world?
A Prayer for the Day
A Prayer for Hope
God of Advent,
You see the brokenness of this world,
And You meet us in the midst of it with love and promise.
Teach us to hold onto hope,
Not as a retreat from reality, but as a response to it.
Strengthen us to work for justice,
To act with compassion, and to trust in Your faithfulness.
May the light of this Advent season guide us
And remind us that, even in the darkness, You are near.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Lighting the Candle of Hope
Today, take a candle you find beautiful around your house and light it, the candle of Advent Hope. As you do, take a moment to name the places in your life or the world where hope feels difficult to find. Acknowledge the weight of those realities, and then offer them to God in prayer.
As you go through the day, choose small acts of hope—a gesture of kindness, a step toward reconciliation, or an effort to care for the world around you. Trust that these small acts matter, and let them remind you that hope isn’t just something we feel; it’s something we do.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
February 6, 7-8pm ET - Join my conversation with Rev. Dr. Isa Gucciardi on the launch of her latest book on depth hypnosis. Info coming soon.
July 20-25, 2025 - The Art of Wilding: A 5-Day Expedition in Wyoming for Women Leaders. Click here to learn more.
A couple of weeks ago (after the US election), I drafted a Strategic Framework for Congregations as we move into the coming years. If interested, you can download it here.