Let's Experience the Thrill of Hope this Advent Season

Scripture

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.—Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

What state is your heart in this Advent season? Are you joyfully expectant for all that is to come or are you distracted with holiday demands? I pray this devotional encourages you to find time to sit in awe of our Savior.

Out of the blue, my preteen son said, “I am just so excited for Christmas this year!” His jubilant anticipation was evident in his facial expressions, and it was a pleasant surprise to see the wonder return in his eyes. You know what I mean—the twinkle in the eye that comes so easily to young children, which we tend to lose as we age. Curious, I asked, “Is there any particular reason you are so excited this year?”

“Nope, I just am.”

The interaction made me ponder if I, too, am genuinely excited about what is to come: the celebration of the birth of Jesus and the glorious second return of our Savior. Too often, my eyes drift to the full schedule, demands, chaos, and darkness of the world instead of sparkling with wonder at all that Jesus is currently doing in my life and heart. I fail to rest and sit in awe during this busy time of year. Perhaps you also have worldly things pulling you away from focusing on the true Reason for the season.

Gratefully, Advent is a season of spiritual preparation that shifts our focus back to Christ through repentance, reflection, and hopeful waiting. It is twenty-four days of eagerly opening a little door on a calendar and opening our hearts to all Christ wants to do within us. It is four weeks of igniting a spark of hope, peace, joy, and love. And it is the perfect time to refresh our weary souls.

As I prepare my heart for this upcoming season, I reflect on what I love most about this time of year. Of course, family time, pie, and Christmas Eve candlelight service come to mind. And then I think of my favorite Christmas song, O Holy Night. It’s unexplainable, but every time I hear that song on the radio, all striving and wrestling in my mind cease, and I escape to the feet of our Savior for a few sacred minutes. There are two lines that always cause my heart to skip a beat: “Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.”

Oh friend, in Jesus’ presence, our souls can finally feel at home. In His presence, we can rejoice and experience the thrill of hope, but sometimes we have to work for it. The older we get, the harder it is to reach this level of excitement, especially as we await our coming King in an increasingly dark world. It’s easy to say we are hopeful, but I fear many of us are missing the “thrilling” part of the journey. I know I am. I believe a childlike faith is the key to experiencing this kind of excited hope and anticipation. So, this Christmas, let’s invite our younger selves to come play, rejoice, and sing with us.

Questions for Reflection

1.       What is one thing you can say “no” to this busy season to make more room for Jesus?

2.       What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory? Wouldn’t it be fun to recreate it this year?

A Prayer for the Advent Season

Dear Father, You saw fit to bring our Savior into this world as a baby completely dependent on human love. Only You can write such a beautiful love story that is still unfolding before me. Help me to slow down this Christmas season, focus on You, and experience the thrill of it all. May the whole world rejoice in celebration of Jesus Christ! Amen.