Waiting in Joyful Hope: An Advent Reflection

By: Gracie Brennan

Being asked to wait can be a difficult task. Too often, we find ourselves on edge, waiting for test scores, waiting for school breaks, waiting for people to reply to our text messages. There are MANY examples of waiting in our daily lives, and as we wait, we frequently experience various types of emotions. We might feel excitement or anticipation, nervousness, or restlessness. We may feel anxious, which can lead us to find a distraction. Coming from a teenager, it is sad to say that whenever I have free time or am in a state of “anticipation,” I, most commonly, find myself attached to my iPhone 12. Hours and hours go by as I endlessly scroll on Instagram or Snapchat. As I wait, I continuously find things to preoccupy myself. This may be relatable, as most people have access to a mobile device. But I have a question for you. When you are scrolling on your phone or partaking in random time fillers, do you feel accomplished or satisfied?  Are you using your time wisely when you are in states of anticipation?

Advent is a great opportunity for escaping our typical time-consuming habits. During this time, we are asked to wait, for something very good is on the horizon. As we enter the first week of Advent, the first candle, Hope, is lit. This candle shares a bright light with our darkening world. It inspires us to keep going, to keep believing, even when times are challenging and dark. When thinking about hopefulness, a certain verse from Lamentations 3:25-26 comes to mind: "The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." Reflect on this. It is so important to trust in the Lord’s carefully crafted plan for us. We should not have fear, but have hope. Think about Mary, the pregnant woman. Mary is the symbol of the Advent season as she waits in joyful hope for the birth of her son, Jesus. Mary decided to consume herself with the love of Christ instead of doing meaningless tasks to waste time. She trusted God with everything, and even if she was scared, she chose to spend her time in hopefulness and preparation. If you are seeking to escape your habitual routine of scrolling or looking for time wasters, look instead towards preparing your heart in this Advent season. Simply waiting is never going to bring fulfillment. If we choose to stay in our “bubble," separate and isolated, we are sheltering ourselves from creation, from nature, and from the gifts God has given to us. Even though darkness might consume our thoughts, create a space for God to overcome them. The Holy Spirit’s grace is always there, and we can allow that grace to consume us - to take us over. We have to prepare a place, create that space, within our hearts, and say yes to God like Mary did. When you don’t have an open heart, there is no place for the light of Christ to dwell within you. 

When I was younger, I spent a lot of my summers attending a camp at a local church. This camp was filled with fun as I rode carnival rides and slid down multiple slip ’n slides. However, it was in the middle of all these activities where I really began to discover my faith. Throughout my summers at this camp, I learned new stories from the Bible, new methods to pray, and I learned to ask myself extremely good questions that really enhanced my faith as a whole. One story from one of my camp counselors has truly stuck with me to this day. I remember her saying this: Imagine that there is a door within you. On one side of the door, there is you. You are well and are surrounded by friends and family. You have many things that can bring you happiness, but only temporarily. Also, on this side of your door, you carry many things in your arms. Maybe these things are physical, such as a purse or a cell phone. Or, maybe these things are mental. For instance, a grudge or certain stubbornness. You feel as if the world is on your shoulders as you hold all these things, but if you just listen to your surroundings, if you tune out the noises of the things that you carry, you’ll hear there is a knocking on the other side of the door. That knock is from Jesus. He is knocking at the door, asking for you to embrace the love he has for you. He has open arms and is excited to know you on a deeper level. He is asking you to drop the things you are holding so he can carry them with you because he wants to walk with you through every stage of your life. And maybe you don’t realize it, but something within you is incomplete. You feel a sense of longing, as if an essential part of your life is missing. That’s because it is. All the things you are holding onto, that occupy you both physically and mentally are just temporary. They might give you pleasure or make you feel self-righteous, but that doesn’t last. Jesus is there for you and is eager to share His everlasting love with you. He will continue to knock. But the question is. Are you ready for Him? Are you ready to open the door? Is your heart eager to accept his love? During this time of Advent, God invites each and every one of you to open your heart to him. Also, it is so important that you do this because the Lord could arrive at any given moment. 

Reflecting upon the Gospel from Matthew this past Sunday, there is a good reminder for ALL of us embedded in the texts: "Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left. Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." For at an hour we do not expect, the Son of Man will come!! Let that sink in. Why would you spend your time scrolling on your phone when the Lord’s time is near? It is 2025! Ready yourself! Are you ready for the Lord mentally? Have you heard His knocking and opened the door to him? Are you ready physically? Are you in a good place right now in your relationship with God? Examine yourself. How can you more thoroughly go through with the plans He has for you? What can you do to change your unhealthy habits that distance your relationship with God? Advent is a time to prepare, for the birth of Jesus Christ is near. Quoting Dorothea’s talk from last year: “ No matter your personality, no matter your age, no matter what stage of life you're in or what experiences you are facing; you are capable of being transformed and transforming others in this season of Advent.” There are no limits. Anyone is able to hear the voice of God; you just have to listen and have ears to hear. I challenge you this Advent season to prepare your hearts and wait in joyful hope. Prepare for what is to come, for the Lord has amazing plans in store for you.