Advent: Restful Anticipating, not Stressful Waiting
/Advent 2020 is upon us, and I don’t know about you, but it’s about time 2020 gives us some good news, even if that good news is not necessarily new news since we revisit this familiar story at this time every year, and even if that good news is not necessarily new news since it has been told for over two millennia.
It may not be new news, but it is the Good News, and that is the best news indeed! The Gospel began with a journey, not just a journey to Bethlehem, but a journey to introduce us to Him — that babe in a manger who would become our Savior invites us into that journey with Him.
Regardless of when you first heard this good news, it is never too early or too late to start waiting in hope by observing Advent. To me, that’s what Advent really is — anticipating the most amazing gift that’s ALREADY BEEN GIVEN. Seems like an oxymoron — waiting for something you already have, but that is exactly why…
Advent is restful anticipating, not stressful waiting.
It’s probably a good thing we revisit this story each year, because I, for one, need the reminder. As a mom of boys, more specifically, as mom of four boys, and now, as mom of four teenage boys, I can assure you that over the years my approach to advent didn’t always invite restful anticipating, but rather incited stressful waiting.
In my attempt to manufacture a meaningful journey to the manger for our family each year, I’d try to find the perfect devotional, the perfect activity, the perfect craft, the perfect resource. Oftentimes, in my search for the perfect Advent experience, I’d forget to search for the Savior, the babe in the manager, perfection Himself. I’d miss the meaning altogether, because I was too busy making it about me and my family, when it is not about me and my family, it’s all about Him and becoming part of His family.
Even still, I am thankful for the years I spent struggling through Advent, because honestly, it was in the struggle the meaning and message came alive in my heart. The struggle refined my motives for teaching my boys the meaning and message. I realized it was better caught than taught. Better lived than learned.
Until Advent invited restful anticipating in my own heart, I would continue to incite stressful waiting in the hearts of others.
So, what does restful anticipating even look like? I’m glad you asked!
Because we already know what, or better WHO, we are waiting for, the anticipatory advent adventure year after year should welcome the peace and joy that hope brought with it by experiencing this good news through the eyes of those who experienced that first Christmas firsthand.
Advent should invite restful anticipating, not incite stressful waiting.
The prophecies were true. The Messiah came, and HE CAME TO US. We can seek and search and try and strive, but our finding Him has little to do with us and that perfect advent resource and everything to do with Him and His perfect timing.
HE CAME TO US... HE (God Himself) CAME TO (we didn’t have to move or go...we just have to abide and stay and trust His promise...He came to and for and in spite of and because of...) US (all of us, Jews and Gentiles, young and old, every single one of us who will BELIEVE will RECEIVE).
So, if you are not doing some type of Advent study, reading, or devotional each day leading up to Christmas, let me encourage you to just do it. You won’t regret it! Don’t stress about choosing the perfect resource, just allow the resource you chose to point you to the rest found in the source of perfect peace, Jesus Christ Himself — the babe in manger and the only Savior.
With two boys in college now, and different schedules to work around, we’ve had to be creative for the past few years with what we have chosen to do as a family. This year we are reading the YouVersion Advent Reading Plan, Advent: The Journey to Christmas (A Church of the Highlands Devotional). We’ll read the devotional each day and engage in conversation in the comments via the YouVersion Bible App. And this momma will remember, the boys may will be goofy at times, but things don’t have to be prim and proper and perfect for God to move and make Himself known.
The past couple years, we’ve done the YouVersion Advent Reading Plans, The Songs Tell the Story by Janet Denison (a look at the history and meaning behind the Carols we sing at Christmastime) and Meet Him at the Manger by Stuart and Jill Briscoe (based on a beautiful poem written by Jill by the same name). I highly recommend both of these reading plans.
I also highly recommend these resources I’ve used throughout the years:
Come Lord Jesus by Kris Camealy
Jingle and Joy by Jodie Barrett
He Is & For All by Becky Kiser (and others)
The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp
And our all-time favorite Advent resource when the kids were younger was a series by Arnold Ytreeide: Jotham’s Journey, Bartholomew’s Passage, Tabitha’s Travels, and Ishtar’s Odyssey
I’ll also list below a few other new resources available now. While I haven’t personally done them, they come highly recommended to me; therefore, I feel comfortable recommending them to you, too. (I actually know a few of these authors personally, so that helps, too)…
Shadow & Light by Ash Oxenreider
The Advent Narrative: The Life You Didn’t Know You Were Already Living by Mary Geisen
Jesus Over Everything by Lisa Whittle as an Online Bible Study for Advent
Countdown to Christmas by Lisa Appelo
Here's a FREE resources by Chelsey DeMatteis: Good News Great Joy : 25 Advent Devotions to Steady Your Heart In The Joy We Have in Christ (Several of my author friends contributed to this resource.)
There are tons of other Advent resources out there!! And really, It doesn’t matter what you choose to use because the truth of the matter is HE CHOSE YOU, and He will meet you right where you are! HE CAME TO US. He is Emmanuel, God with us.
And that truth alone should spur us on the join the journey — the advent adventure.
And remember along the way…
Advent is restful anticipating, not stressful waiting.
I’ve linked all the advent resources I mentioned in this post for easy access. I’d love to hear what you are doing for Advent this year! Feel free to share in the comments below…