Hope is defined as “to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence” and “to believe, desire, and trust.” How fitting it is that in the first week of Advent we focus on HOPE. I recently watched a word study on Hope from The Bible Project on YouTube, in which they stated, “Hope is a state of anticipation.”

We have all experienced a feeling of Hope during different times of life…maybe in small things like hoping for your favorite player as you opened your new package of baseball cards, or the hope that as you open the new box of cereal, you can find the prize at the bottom before your brother does. Maybe there have been big moments…hoping for the job you interviewed for and desperately wanted or the hope that on the next date you would meet “the one.” In our case, the hope that we will soon be heading to Thailand after years of waiting on the Lord and His perfect timing.

For all of us who know the Lord, our greatest Hope is found in Jesus. We can choose Hope even in the most trying (and darkest) times because of Jesus! The Bible Project stated so beautifully, “It’s God’s past faithfulness that motivates Hope for the future; we look forward by looking backward.” God is faithful, His promises never fail. “For you have been my HOPE, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.” Psalm 71:5 When we look back, we can trace the path of God’s faithfulness in our lives, even during the most difficult times. Thus, we know He will continue to guide our future. We have assurance and confidence (Hope) in this because of God’s beautiful gift of His son, Jesus Christ. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the HOPE of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2

Today, we can confidently boast in the Hope of the glory of God as we continually look toward the gift of Jesus Christ and the price He paid for us so that we no longer have to be separated from God. “May the God of HOPE fill you with ALL joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Our family is full of HOPE and can confidently boast in the provision of our Lord…we are 98% funded (we only need $306/month to reach 100%)!!! Thank you to our faithful partners who are surrounding us in prayer and a huge thanks to those who are committed to supporting us financially…we are very certain we will be heading to Thailand in late-January/early-February and we wouldn’t be able to go without your partnership! Thank you for joining us in sharing HOPE and the love of Christ with the Hilltribe people in Thailand!

Filled with HOPE,

Alise & Mark Juanes