Last year I used an inordinate amount of tape to wrap Christmas presents. This is because our oldest child was not quite two and a half years old. She got into everything and wanted to rip open presents to see what was inside. Humans are generally bad at waiting– which is unfortunate because that is one of the primary themes of Advent. Then again, perhaps that is why we need to have a season dedicated to practicing waiting.

If you look around right now, things are decked out in red and green, but technically things should be purple. Advent, despite what it looks like even among the Church, is not a season of extended Christmas celebration. It’s actually a season of longing and anticipation for Immanuel, God with us. In Advent, we get in touch with the yearning felt by every generation of God’s people since the Garden– the longing for hope, peace, and joy amidst long years of exile, sin, and darkness. Like Israel awaited the Messiah’s first coming, we await His second coming. 

Why is this an important season? Because it is really easy to get caught up in the visible, busy life in front of us and forget that we are awaiting the completion of God’s coming Kingdom. There is no better evidence of this than the very conspicuous tug-o-war of consumeristic Christmas versus Advent. While the Church is trying to remember that Christmas is about Jesus and Advent is a time of preparing for Him, marketing shouts that Christmas is about buying joy for those you love. The discipline of practicing “Advent longing” is important to help us focus on the eternal reign of Immanuel and our participation in bringing His Kingdom to fruition on earth. 

“In Sin and Error Pining”

Perhaps, you think grief and confession don’t belong in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Alas, centuries of Church history and Advent songs like “O Holy Night” would disagree. 

Since Adam and Eve rejected God’s leadership in the Garden, His people have been suffering the natural consequences of our own sin and the sin of others. The longer humanity exists the more complicated and integrated with sin the systems of our world become-- to the point that we can see no way to decouple them. Furthermore, we bumble along in ignorance making foolish decisions with our time, money, and emotions. All of this leads to a choice. We can distract ourselves with holiday parties, gift shopping, and bingeing nostalgia. Or we can take the time to get in touch with Adam and Eve’s pining for redemption from sin’s shackles and restoration to the intimacy they had with God. 

Sit for a moment and consider your own sin and errors of the last couple days. Share with God your longing for redemption and restoration. 

“The Hopes and Fears of All the Years”

After God liberated Israel from slavery in Egypt, and they vowed to be loyal to Him, they got bored, scared, or confused and decided to craft an image of a golden calf to worship instead of God himself. This was heartbreaking and infuriating so God told Moses they could still go to the Promised Land but He would not be with them. In this moment, Moses has all of Israel’s hopes and fears for the future on His mind. How could they possibly flourish, even in the land flowing with milk and honey, if they didn’t have the leadership of God? Without God, Moses knew Israel was a vulnerable and foolish group who would walk right into destruction. 

We are often vulnerable and foolish, but with big hopes and fears. Financial security, physical wellness, and family dynamics can all have soaring highs and devastating lows. And when we try to manage them on our own, we realize our “wisdom” is wayward and we’ve wandered off the path of life. 

Share with God the pains, decisions, hopes, or fears that weigh on you most often. Then contemplate the reality that He is the Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace on whom we wait.

“That Mourns in Lonely Exile”

In the west, we often think of exile as a thing of the past and something Christians just spiritualize as an analogy. But according to the United Nations, as of June 2025, over 117 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to violence, persecution, and human rights violations. That is 1 in every 70 people on earth. Mourning in lonely exile hits very close to home for many around the world, including people settling in our own nation. 

Like Israel in their several exiles, the warfare, corruption, and power struggles in our world cause fear and pain that leaves people isolated, grieving, and desperate. When everything around us emphasizes family, warmth, and abundance to the point of wastefulness, we are called to mourn with those who mourn and provide for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow. 

Consider how people in your city might be faring if they are homeless, without family, or unemployed. Take time to lament our world’s violence to God, and think of a way to serve this Advent.

“The Weary World Rejoices”

At the risk of too little, too late, I must add the importance of rejoicing this Advent. Even in the minor key Advent songs full of longing, we belt out “Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel has come to thee O Israel!” 

Though weary, our world rejoices because God keeps His promises. Though yearning echoes from generation to generation, it does so because hope comes with it. Our hope is defiant in the face of darkness. It is proud in the face of humbling circumstances. It stands firm and rejoices, even as we acknowledge very real suffering. We see this in the story of the Nativity. Mary and Joseph were dealt a challenging hand by God. He chose to bring the Savior of the world into it by impregnating a virgin and setting the rumor mill ablaze. Then, they couldn’t find a normal place to give birth. And after the Messiah was born, they didn’t have long before they became refugees themselves and fled to Egypt for several years. And yet Mary rejoices. 

Take time to echo Mary’s resonant hope and rejoicing by praying the Magnificat:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
    for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

Amen.