Advent: Our Great Hope

November 26, 2022

Bible Readings

Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.

Lamentations 3:21-24

Memory Verse

Lamentations 3:21-22

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. (NIV)

written by Ron VandenBurg
illustrated by Chad Thompson

Panel one has a textbox on top that says, “There are lots of ways that you can share God’s hope with others.” We see Casey with her arm around a crying friend.

Panel two is a split panel. On the left side, Casey reads the Bible while her Sunday school peers listen. She says, “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. On the right side, Casey helps by setting the table for supper while her dad takes a casserole out of the oven.

Panel three is a split panel. On the left side, Casey is holding a door open for someone who needs help, and she gives them a big smile. On the right side, her family is donating food to the food pantry.

Print Comic

Have you ever said something like, “I hope we win our game tonight,” or “I hope the teacher doesn’t give us homework over the weekend”? When we use the word hope, we’re usually talking about something we really want to happen, but don’t know for sure if it will happen. The Bible uses the word hope in a different way. In the Bible, our hope is in something that hasn’t happened, but we know for sure it will happen, because God says so. When we trust Jesus as our Savior, God promises that he will never stop loving us and being kind to us. We share our hope with others by showing God’s love and kindness in things we do and say.

Today’s verse comes from the book of Lamentations. Jeremiah wrote this very sad book after he saw his city, Jerusalem, destroyed because the people who lived there didn’t obey God. But even in his sadness, Jeremiah found hope in God’s promises to send a Redeemer to restore Jeremiah’s city and to save his people from their sins. We can trust in God’s promises too! We know he always loves us and is kind to us and that he sent his Son, Jesus—the Redeemer Jeremiah was waiting for—to save us from our sins and give us eternal life. This is our great hope!

During the season of Advent, we can share this hope with our families, friends, and classmates by showing them God’s love and kindness. Let them know that no matter how bad their troubles are God loves them…and so do you. Think of someone who is sad or in need. Find a way that you can show them God’s hope this week.

Prayer

Faithful Savior, with all my heart, I am waiting, Lord, for you! I trust your promises. Thank you for always being merciful and saving us from all our sins and troubles. Amen.

Related Resources

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Gifts of Kindness Advent Calendar and Devotionals

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Reverse Advent Calendar

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Advent At Home

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God's Promise to Abraham

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Bible Story Coloring Packet 3: God Sends a Savior

Liz and Friends

What is the Measure of Your Success

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Know Your Bible Activity Book Christmas Part 4!

Ron VandenBurg

Senior Producer of Children’s Ministry at ReFrame Ministries

Ron VandenBurg joined the ReFrame Ministries team in 2014. He plans and develops projects specifically for the spiritual formation of children. Before coming to ReFrame, Ron taught middle-school for 27 years. Ron completed a M. Ed. degree in Teaching, Learning and Development at Brock University. Ron and Rachel have three fantastic adult children and one grandchild and reside in Ontario.