I was preparing an Advent sermon recently and I became curious about what the Japanese congregation thought about “hope.” So, I sent out a short survey.
One person wrote that hope feels “difficult because of daily life struggles, such as rising food prices and concerns about a secure future.” Another said that while they “don’t lose hope, it is difficult to maintain it.”
When I asked what it meant personally, several people responded that it means “to keep going” or “to believe that things will be okay.” But most expressed that true hope comes from walking with Jesus and knowing that God will not abandon them.
One comment especially stood out:
“Even if the cause of despair is not removed, one can still have hope if there is something to rely on—God’s guidance. Hope lies not in things that change, but in things that are unchanging.”
That made me think about the different kinds of hope. There’s our everyday hopes—for safety, stability, success, and good relationships. These things are good, but they can change with time and circumstance. Then there is a deeper hope that gives meaning and sustains life itself. Sometimes these may seem separate, but in Christ, they come together.
Even when life is uncertain and difficult, the certain hope we have in Jesus gives us strength to endure. This hope was fulfilled when Jesus came into the world, and it continues on as we wait for his return. This is the hope we share with those around us.
In Japan I’ve noticed how many people quietly search for meaning, peace, and belonging. The survey responses—and daily life here—showed me that the longing for hope is real, though often hidden.
Yet, even as daily longings change, God remains our unchanging and confident hope.
This is what I want to share with the people of Japan.
As we walk through this Advent season, I pray we can time to consider where our hope truly rests. What does it mean for us to place our hope in Jesus—the One who came, who walks with us now, and who will come again? My prayer is that this same hope would quietly take root in many hearts across Japan, and in our own hearts as well.
By David K, an OMF missionary
