by Mackenzie Matthews on December 23, 2024
Advent literally means ‘arrival,’ or “coming.” Traditionally it runs through the four Sundays before Christmas through Christmas Day. It is a season we celebrate the advent of Jesus- God who comes to us. In advent where we recount the Christmas story. We pause to remember, prepare ourselves, and sensitize ourselves to experience how he came.
It is a wonder and a mystery. The fact that the almighty God of the universe would choose to become human is astounding. The infinite became finite, a speck in the womb of his creation in order to rescue and redeem it. In Advent we retell and remember how He came to us. We also remember how He is coming. Both in future glory, when all things will be made right, and currently in the specific details of our lives and our world today, right now.
We all have places where we are waiting, and longing for God’s presence. In these places we need His intervention and desire the light of His coming to touch the dark places of our world. In these places we long to know Him, to find Him, and to see His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. We'd love to have that immediately! Instant redemption, instant comfort, instant purpose and meaning. But it turns out God is far more patient than we are.
His purposes are far beyond what we can comprehend. So how do we wait? How do we wait well? Faithfully? Honestly? When the authentic place looks like a wrestling match? How do we remain hopeful? This is worth pursuing.
For this little part of Advent over the next 7 days, we are remembering the mystery and wonder of His coming. And we are praying through the places we are all waiting and longing to see Him come.
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