“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Micha 5:2

Many biblical scholars point to Micah 5:2 as one of the most significant prophecies in the Old Testament, foretelling the birth of Jesus in the small, unassuming town of Bethlehem, some 700 years before his birth. In this verse, Micah predicts a ruler will “come forth” to carry out God’s redemptive process, to serve God’s purpose and to seek his glory. Additionally, this ruler will have origin going back to the covenant between God and Abraham. Micah is encouraging his readers that God is faithful and the promise of hope remains, regardless of the current circumstances.

Created from the tragic murder of Marjaree Mason by her former boyfriend in 1978, Marjaree Mason Center (MMC) is a refuge of hope for adults and their children affected by domestic violence in Fresno County. When families enter the doors of MMC they have fled the trauma of abuse: emotional, verbal, sexual, physical and financial. They are afraid and without hope, unable to see their life separate from the horrifying abuse they are experiencing. Yet in the midst of trauma, they are offered resources of crisis intervention, emergency and longer-term safe housing, case management, counseling, legal advocacy and education. Slowly but surely their hurt begins to turn to hope and they begin to see and experience a life free of violence.

This Advent season, may we have the courage to look beyond whatever our current circumstance may be and cling to the promise of hope, knowing “that He who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:6 NIV).

Gracious Lord, look upon each of us who struggle to see hope in the midst of adversity. Help us to give you our doubts knowing that you ARE the God of hope. Amen.