I stood in line waiting for my drink at Starbucks. Ten minutes passed, and still they had not called my name. I was growing impatient as, one by one, others received their orders. I was anxious to get back to the hospital where my grandmother was being treated for sepsis.

It was hard to watch my grandma struggle and suffer, unable to communicate her needs to those caring for her because of a language barrier. After days spent in the ICU, I needed a break. But now, as the minutes ticked by, I feared I had been gone too long. After 15 minutes, I realized they must have forgotten my order.

Even though it was an honest mistake, I was angry. I was physically and emotionally exhausted, and this insignificant delay was enough to push me over the edge. I stomped toward the counter, but at that moment, I remembered the words on my shirt: “Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow.” I paused and reflected. Even in the darkest moments of life, I knew Christ was, is, and will be with me. And I knew that my words and actions in this moment—like all moments—spoke powerfully of the God within me.

In John 14, Jesus promised He will not leave us as orphans. He asked the Father to give the Great Counselor, the Holy Spirit, to guide us. He also promised to come to us again. Emmanuel, God with us, is Christ’s promise to us. It is our strength for today and our hope for tomorrow. And with that promise, God is asking us to proclaim His goodness to the world.

May our lives proclaim Your love, Father. Help us to live differently because You are with us and in us. May others be drawn to the Good News of the Gospel because they see it alive in us—through trials and triumphs alike.

by Jieun Lee, HOPE senior savings group program advisor