Across the Pastor’s Desk by Nancy Overgaard

Nancy Overgaard is a member of the Freeborn County Ministerial Association.

Seven years ago, our Christmas cactus refused to bloom, reflecting the state of my own soul.

Being diagnosed with cancer put my life plans on hold. My hopes for the future were not exactly flowering. Months of treatment and years of follow-up would clip my wings and curtail my plans to serve as a missionary overseas. My opportunities would be limited.

By spring, I hoped to feel better with treatment behind me. Instead, I felt worse. My hopes were as low as my energy. After several unsuccessful phone interviews, I felt not hope, but despair.

Then I noticed a single pink bud on the Christmas cactus. A geranium, also barren for months, had produced a single red bud. I took it as a sign of hope things would get better, and they did.

The years since then have not been as flourishing as I had hoped. Yet, they have brought new opportunities to write for the paper, offer devotions on radio and serve as a chaplain and pastor.

Suddenly, seven years later, the Christmas cactus produced more buds than I could count. Each bud blossomed into a flower, more beautiful, elegant and graceful than ever before. Every branch was loaded with them. I hope it is a sign from God of good things to come in my life!

Yet, at Advent, we are encouraged to put our hopes in far greater things than whatever opportunities this life brings. In Isaiah 8 and 9 — traditional Bible readings for Advent — an entire nation was feeling not hope, but despair. The nation was at war, and Isaiah described it as a time of distress, darkness and gloom (8:22). The people had distanced themselves from God through their sin and disobedience. God had distanced himself from them and hidden His face.

Yet, into that seemingly hopeless situation, Isaiah spoke words of hope and promise. A child would be born (9:6), a single bud (11:1) and he would change everything. The nation would wait seven centuries for that bud to appear and blossom into the branch promised in Isaiah (11:1).

Yet, when it did, it was glorious. Before Jesus was born, angels announced he was that child.

With the birth and ministry of Jesus came the hope of forgiveness and a restored relationship with God. The mere presence of Jesus brought hope into otherwise hopeless situations.

Yet, disciples of Jesus would quickly learn that life would not be without difficulties despite his coming. At first, they would struggle to reconcile what they hoped for and expected with what they experienced. Early Christians would experience brutal persecution under cruel dictators, as would every generation after theirs. Into that dark situation, the apostles spoke words of hope for theirs and future generations. The first coming of Christ will not be the last. When he comes again, even greater hopes will be realized. It is in that we are to place our hopes (I Peter 1:13).

Throughout the season of Advent and Christmas, Christians are encouraged to look back at the first coming of Christ and reflect on the hopes realized at that time. We are equally encouraged to look forward to the second coming of Christ and the hopes yet to be realized.

With the first coming of Christ came the hope of reconciliation with God and promise that God will be with his people to help us in all our difficulties.

With the second coming of Christ, comes the hope and promise that he will take us to be with him where there will be no further difficulties.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).