so i didn’t grow up celebrating advent. we celebrated christmas for Santa and not Jesus. to me it doesn’t matter if He was born now or in the spring, why would i not celebrate His birth?!?
this is the first year i have even looked into advent. i am reading through “good news of great joy” by John Piper. great read. and as we talk about advent in prayer time as a staff and i understand what God is doing in my life, i see that even in the moments i don’t want to be joyful, He is teaching me to be excited while waiting.
He is building anticipation for the things He has promised. He said that one was coming and then He was silent (or at least in scripture) for hundreds of years. and when Jesus finally comes, it is the best thing. EVER!
i see the things He has promised me. things for this year. for the upcoming year. things for life and family. hopes and dreams. and in this season of waiting for so many of them, He simply whispers, “trust me.” sometimes it seems impossible. it seems like He has obviously forgotten me or left me behind. and then i think of verses like
i know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. job 42:2
Lord, you are my God; i will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. isaiah 25:1
let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. hebrews 10:23
dang. i can’t help but trust Him. so then i ask Him to show me what to be excited and hopeful for. He is so faithful even in that. be it an interaction with someone, a dream, a new job, etc. He is faithful to give you just enough of a glimpse of all that He has to sustain hope.
so i am excited. i am learning to be excited and joyful in the waiting because it is here that He does the hard work.
