Advent

Jesus came to be a light in our darkness.

Maybe this isn’t the first time in history that the world has been dark. Maybe the reason that Christians have been observing Advent since the 4th century is because the world has this way of feeling dark. But there is a light. As we enter the six darkest weeks of the year (literally), we will pivot midway to mark the greatest and brightest turning point in all history: Jesus came for us! And maybe this Advent will begin restoring what has been lost this year.

In a world of hopelessness Jesus came as this in-breaking of light.

He didn’t come to a world already lit up with comfort and joy.
He came to bring peace to a world at war.
He came to bring comfort to the distressed.
He came to announce good news of great joy to those overwhelmed with sadness.  

This is for us, friends.

We spent the weeks leading up to His birthday, focusing on Him, focusing on hope, peace, joy and love because He came!

• He brought hope to our weary hopeless hearts.
• He brought peace to our sleep-stealing anxiety.
• He brought joy to our brokenness.
• He brought love to our emptiness.

“Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." John 8.12

This is important. Because some of you are feeling like you are sinking. Like you can’t get ahead of your problems, or your pain. Maybe you are carrying something that is so heavy. Maybe you are getting tired, tired of contending for your healing, tired of not knowing what is coming. I don’t know where this year has brought you. Or what you feel that it has taken from you.

Your life is too valuable to be distracted by things that don’t last. When we’re tempted to forget the greatest gift in the midst of all this, remember to meditate on why Jesus came and what His priesthood accomplished for us. What a comfort it is to have the companionship of the Father, Son, and Spirit.

I pray for those that have been overwhelmed and for those that have felt far away from God that you would find peace, love, hope and joy this advent season.