Thursday, December 19, 2024

 Jg 13:2-7, 24-25     Ps 71:1-8     Rev 20:1-10     Lk 1:5-25

Does anyone else ever feel like getting to Christmas is like trying to make it through a marathon you didn’t train for? You’ve made it through the first half of the year and maybe had some rest during the summer, but now you’ve slogged your way through September, October, and November, just trying to keep up. You finally get to December and you add all the kids’ concerts, work deadlines, Christmas parties, gift buying, holiday organizing…. The list goes on and on and on top of it you’ve probably been sick at least once, and then the church has the audacity to ask us to just… wait. Who’s got the time to wait? There’s 48 things still on my to-do list, and really, we already know what we’re waiting for… right?

But what if what we are waiting for isn’t just for Jesus to show up in the Nativity scene so we can open presents and eat too much? What if we are meant to wait to stop the noise? To find refuge from the chaos with Jesus in the silence of the waiting?

The call to wait during Advent is usually the reminder I need this time of year to turn my attention back to Jesus. The reading from Psalm 71 today felt very indicative of the peace that can come when we choose to manage the noise by turning to him. It is far too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and forget to take refuge in Christ. “I run for dear life to God,” says our psalmist, “get me out of this mess… give me space for salvation. Be a guest room where I can retreat.”

Advent reminds me to run for dear life back to God. It reminds me of where I actually value spending my time and energy. It reminds me to wait with him amidst the chaos for the return of our Saviour.

by Sara Gateman

 
"Need You More" King + Country

 

 

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