Praise to God for a Living Hope
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
—1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
Wars, violence, natural disasters, inflation, pollution, injustice, division, hostility… The world around us often feels heavy with despair. When I pause to imagine the future, it can feel like I am staring into “the bleak midwinter”, a season of cold silence and uncertainty.
Yet, Advent invites us to lift our eyes. It’s a season of waiting in hopeful anticipation. In 1 Peter 1:3, the apostle breaks through the darkness with a bold declaration: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” This is not emotional escapism or naïve optimism. It’s a call to remember the reasons we praise.
Peter outlines four truths that anchor our hope.
First of all, he talks about the nature of our hope. It is not wishful thinking or vague positivity. It is a living hope, which is active, enduring, and rooted in the eternal. It breathes life into our present and sustains us into the future.
Secondly, he talks about the mechanism of our hope. We receive this hope through new birth. In Christ, we are made new. The old has gone; the new has come. This rebirth opens the door to a life of purpose, transformation and possibility beyond what we can imagine.
Thirdly, he talks about the foundation of our hope. Our new birth is made possible through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Death, the ultimate fear for many, is not the end. Jesus’ resurrection declares that even death has been defeated. Our hope is grounded in this victory.
Lastly, he talks about the reason for our hope. And perhaps most humbling of all: this hope is ours because of God’s great mercy. It is not because of our achievements, credentials, merits, endeavors, or spiritual performance. It is a gift freely given by a merciful God.
As we journey through Advent in this “already and not yet” space, may we be reminded that we have a living hope. Even in our brokenness, we are held by a living hope that cannot be shaken. Whether you’re navigating uncertainty, wrestling with questions, or carrying unseen burdens, this hope is for you.
May this season renew your vision, restore your heart, and reawaken your praise.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
About the Author
Cindy Wu, Ph.D.
Professor of Management, Hankamer School of Business
Cindy Wu serves as professor of Management at the Hankamer School of Business. She earned her PhD in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the School of Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is also certified in Workplace Diversity and Inclusion by Cornell University. Wu has been on faculty at the Hankamer School of Business since 2003.
Wu conducts research in the areas of employee wellbeing and leadership. Specifically, she is interested in how employees may most effectively recover their energy from work stress, and how organizations and leaders may help employees flourish as holistic human beings. Her research work has been published in such journals as the Journal of Applied Psychology, Human Resource Management, Human Relations, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Leadership Quarterly, Journal of Vocational Behavior, and the International Journal of Business Studies. She is currently on the editorial board of the Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies. She has taught courses in Human Resource Management (undergraduate and MBA levels), Human Resources Staffing and Labor Relations, and Organizational Behavior (undergraduate and PhD levels) at the Hankamer School of Business. She currently teaches courses in Human Resource Management.