Advent Devotional 5

A Confident HOPE

By Laurel Poff

Read Romans 5:1-5; Hebrews 11

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” [Romans 5:5]

The Mexican Gray Wolf is the smallest gray wolf subspecies in North America. Once common throughout parts of the Southwestern U.S. and Mexico, the Mexican Wolf was nearly eliminated from the wild in the 1970’s due to conflicts with livestock. In 1976, the Mexican Gray Wolf was listed as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act and a bi-national captive breeding program was initiated to save the Mexican Gray Wolf from extinction. In 1998, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released the first captive Mexican wolves into the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area in Arizona and New Mexico.

Schoolchildren in Flagstaff, AZ recently named one special wolf, Mexican Wolf 2979, “Hope” – a symbol of resilience and a reminder of what could be – a thriving, balanced ecosystem that defies outdated ideas of where wolves belong.

Hope, along with another Mexican Gray Wolf known as “Mystery”, left their wolf pack in July this year and were recently seen travelling outside of the Experimental Population Area north of Interstate 40 - near the Grand Canyon. Decided evidence for many conservationists of a rebound of the under-dog into its natural habitat.

Until November 7th, 2024, when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported that Hope was tragically found deceased. The fate of her companion wolf is still a Mystery.

The death of Mexican Wolf 2979 is a dashed Hope, a tragedy to all who saw her as a symbol of recovery for the Endangered Species.

As Christians, we are not immune to dashed hopes and defeated dreams. People fail, expectations fall through, and circumstances don’t pan out the way we wish. When we place our hope in people (or wolves), the weather, changing circumstances, even the best-made plans, we become vulnerable to failure and defeat.

Yet, there is an unwavering hope described in Scripture that does not fail. Romans 5:5 describes a hope that “does not disappoint”. How do we secure this hope? By placing our hope in the One who Does Not Fail. Jeremiah 29:11 describes confidence in a hope and a future placed in God’s Hands, “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to give you a future and hope.” The One who is known as Almighty God, Redeemer, Light of the World, The Way, The Truth, Life, Love, Good Shephard, Messiah, Prince of Peace, King of Kings, Who does not falter or change like the wind or shift like sand. Immanuel, God (Always) With Us. We find confidence that the God of the Universe is with us this Advent Season, through the heartache and the hurt of unmet expectations and dashed dreams. He is With Us. He is Faithful. He is True. The One who promises to never leave us or forsake us [Hebrews 13:5]. This is a Hope that we can rely on.

How does knowing that God is with us through the Hard provide Hope?

Hebrews 11:1 describes Faith as “Being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  How does this idea of Faith in God being connected to Confident Hope provide comfort and peace during this advent season?

Dear God, thank you for your promise to never leave us or forsake us. Thank you that we can place our hope in You, Immanuel, God With Us.

St. John member Laurel Poff is a U.S. Forest Service employee.