December 4, 2025
Isaiah 11:1–9 gives us one of the most beautiful images of Advent hope—a shoot springing from the stump of Jesse. From what appears dead, new life begins. The Spirit of the Lord rests on this coming King, who will rule with wisdom, righteousness, and peace. The wolf will live with the lamb, and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. This vision of Advent hope reminds us that God brings life where we see endings, peace where we expect strife, and renewal where we’ve given up.
Devotional:
Isaiah’s prophecy begins in a forest of stumps. The line of David—once mighty and full of promise—has been cut down to nothing but roots and memory. The people have lost their kingdom, their power, their hope. Yet right there, in the soil of despair, Isaiah sees something others can’t: life stirring. “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse,” he says, “and from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.”
That single green sprout becomes the symbol of all Advent hope. God hasn’t abandoned His people; He’s just begun something new. Where others see an ending, God sees a beginning. That’s the rhythm of redemption—life rising from what looks lost.
Advent hope always begins small. It doesn’t roar in like a storm; it grows quietly, like a seed pushing through cold soil. The promise of the Messiah—the One filled with the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and might—wasn’t fulfilled in a palace but in a manger. The world expected strength, but God revealed salvation through gentleness.
Isaiah’s vision doesn’t stop at new growth; it stretches into a world transformed. The wolf and the lamb live together. Children play without fear. Creation itself is restored to harmony under the reign of this righteous King. It’s a dream so big it almost feels impossible—but Advent reminds us that it’s already in motion. Every act of peace, every moment of mercy, every time we choose love over fear, that shoot of hope grows a little taller.
Maybe your life feels like a stump right now—something cut down by loss or disappointment. If so, remember this: God specializes in bringing life from what looks lifeless. The same Spirit that breathed new life into a fallen people is still breathing today.
Hope doesn’t deny the stumps in our lives; it declares that they’re not the end of the story. The shoot is already growing. The Savior has already come. And He’s still making all things new.
Action:
Look for one “stump” in your life or community—a place that feels hopeless—and ask God to show you where new life might already be breaking through.
Prayer:
God of new beginnings, thank You for bringing hope from what feels broken or forgotten. Help me trust that Your promises are still growing, even when I can’t yet see the fruit. Let Your Spirit fill me with patience and peace as I wait for Your renewal. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Thought for the Day:
God’s hope grows quietly—but it never stops growing.
Cheryl is on vacation so no sermon this week. This week, our hearts turn toward that first flicker of Advent hope. These devotionals invite us to slow down, breathe a little deeper, and remember that God still breaks into ordinary days with quiet mercy. The world may rush around us, but Advent asks us to look for the small signs of God’s nearness, the gentle ways He prepares our hearts before we ever notice. Each day this week points us back to the promise that Christ comes not only once in Bethlehem, but again and again into lives that feel worn, waiting, or ready for renewal. My prayer is that these readings draw you close to the One who comes with light in His hands and love that won’t let go.
