Rejoice, rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel…
Week 3 of Advent—the week we light our pink candle, the week we remember to celebrate in the midst of waiting.
Why would we celebrate having to be patient? Why would we rejoice in waiting? Because—as in Advent, so in life—while we wait, we take time to notice what God is doing and how he is close to us, even as our hearts may cry out, “How long, oh Lord, will you make me wait?”
Waiting for God is unlike waiting for anyone or anything else. While we wait at a doctor’s office or restaurant, we lack the thing we’re waiting for: the doctor or our food, for example. But while we wait for God to fulfill his promises—to bring us our husband, a new job, a baby, or whatever we’re waiting for—we still have God. God is with us while we wait. He doesn’t deprive us of his presence, so our waiting isn’t empty or idle.
I’ve heard it said that the Christian life is an already-but-not-yet reality.
We already live in the time of the Church, the time of the Holy Spirit, the time after Jesus’ Resurrection. Jesus has already saved us. He’s already set us free.
But we’re not yet in Heaven, not yet perfect in virtue, not yet fully whole or fully healed.
And so, God’s invitation during this third week of Advent is to rejoice. We don’t discount what God has already done because we’re waiting for what he’s not yet done. We rejoice that he has already done so much for us, and that he still has much in store.
What are some things that God has done for you in the past that you can celebrate now, even in a season of waiting?
What are some ways you can intentionally rejoice this week?
Go deeper this Advent and Christmas
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Treat yourself to solid resources that will make Advent and Christmas come alive for you in new ways.
