Ronald Kiconco Ongopa is a director of individual giving at Habitat for Humanity International. Read his Advent reflection below.
I’ve learned to understand faith not just as a concept, but as a conviction. Faith is what I do because of WHO I believe.
As I reflected on this truth for this devotion, I began to see hope as the bridge to what I do. I realized that what I do has never stood alone. It has been shaped by voices from the past and the places I’ve walked through. Through this exposure and these environments, I learned to trust people — to act because I believe and hope in them. But I’ve also come to understand something deeper. People’s strength depends on where they’ve placed their own hope. If that foundation isn’t solid, everything built on it is shaky.
I was reminded of a young girl named Grace, whom I met while serving with Habitat for Humanity in Uganda. Grace’s life was upended when she lost both parents. She and her siblings lost everything they owned, including their home. Forced into early adulthood, Grace started selling fish to survive. One day, a tourist listened to her story and told her about Habitat, which could mean hope for a home and a future together with her siblings. Grace’s world, however, had taught her something else. “Someone I don’t know, let alone an organization, can’t do that for us,” she thought. Her faith was shaped by her past, and her hope was broken. She dismissed the possibility because it didn’t fit the framework she trusted.
Grace’s story echoes a deeper truth: We act based on who — or what — we believe. And if our belief is rooted in fallen man or painful experiences, our hope can become misdirected.
Jesus Himself faced a harsh environment. Yet “For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame …” His faith was anchored in the Father, and His hope was unwavering. It’s the reason the apostle Paul’s urge is to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” Hope in Him becomes the true means to fruitful life.
Thankfully, Grace’s story didn’t end in despair. She found the courage to challenge her beliefs and to walk into the Habitat offices in Kampala, Uganda. That step changed everything for her and her siblings. Without hope, Grace had no chance. With it, she found a new path.
Lord, sometimes the echoes of our past and the paths we’ve walked can cloud our vision and hinder our dreams. Help us to live fully in You, to see life through Your eyes, and to fix our gaze on Jesus — the author and perfecter of our faith.
