In the leadup to a big thunderstorm during the summer, you can always tell that a storm is coming. The air gets heavy and things get still. You can almost feel the pressure and sense of expectancy in the air, until all of a sudden the wind picks up and the fireworks begin. The 400 years in the leadup to Christ's birth must've felt the same way; a buildup of anticipation that God's Messiah would arrive and save His people. In the meantime, those who feared and trusted the Lord waited in hope for that day to come. The coming of Jesus was the fulfillment of their hopes and the prophets' promises. Jesus showed us that those who put their hope in Him will never be disappointed. As we celebrate the first week of Advent, we look back to the first coming of Jesus and are invited byGod to renew our hope that all of God's promises to us will be fulfilled when Jesus comes again.