In Psalm 126, the Israelites are laughing and shouting and rejoicing because God has changed their circumstances. We can all think of times in our personal life and in the life of our church when we have come through a rough time and our circumstances change for the better.
What joy we feel when we hear the doctor say “You are now cancer free.” Or when we are able to turn around a rough financial situation. Or when we find healing in a relationship. We too have said, “The Lord has done great things for us.”
Advent reminds us that God has a plan and a vision to change our circumstances and our world. As we move through Advent we are waiting and watching – waiting for God’s redemptive love to manifest, and watching for the light of God’s love to come.
However, it is not easy to be patient and wait. We want God to change things now. In our world of violence, fear, and frustration, we sometimes miss the signs of God’s love and light. But if we can set aside our impatience and frustration, we can experience hope in waiting and watching. Advent promises that our waiting will not be in vain, for God has promised redemption, and what God has promised, God will do.
Advent points us to the future, God’s future, and then our own future begins to come into view. God has so much in store for us than we can even imagine.
Prayer: Holy Lord, we ask now that you help us to see signs of your coming, even as we despair with the circumstances in our present world. Help us to remember that we always stick to your promises. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Submitted by: Emily Stinson