Advent is a season of anticipation, a time of waiting and preparation as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and look forward to His return. In a culture that values instant gratification, the practice of waiting can feel countercultural—but it is in this waiting that our faith and hope are cultivated.
Advent invites us to slow down, reflect, and embrace the beauty of waiting, trusting in God’s perfect timing and promises. Let’s explore how the season of Advent deepens our faith and fills us with enduring hope.
The Meaning of Advent
The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival.” It represents a time of expectant waiting as we remember Jesus’ first coming as a baby in Bethlehem and anticipate His second coming as King.
Advent is a season rich in spiritual significance, reminding us that waiting is an essential part of our journey with God. Just as the people of Israel waited for the Messiah, we are called to wait with hope and faith for God’s promises to unfold.
The Purpose of Waiting
In a world of two-day shipping and instant answers, waiting can feel frustrating or even pointless. But in God’s economy, waiting has a purpose.
1. Waiting Builds Faith
Waiting requires trust—trust that God’s timing is perfect and that His promises are sure. Abraham and Sarah waited decades for God to fulfill His promise of a child, and in the process, their faith grew. As Hebrews 11:11 reminds us, “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.”
2. Waiting Cultivates Hope
Hope is born in the tension between what is and what is to come. Advent reminds us that even in seasons of waiting, God is at work. Romans 8:25 encourages us, “But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
3. Waiting Draws Us Closer to God
When we wait, we are invited to seek God more deeply. The psalmist writes, “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope” (Psalm 130:5). Waiting redirects our focus from our circumstances to the One who holds our future.
How Advent Teaches Us to Wait Well
Advent isn’t just about enduring the wait—it’s about waiting with purpose. Here are ways to embrace the beauty of waiting during this season:
1. Reflect on God’s Promises
Spend time reading Scriptures that highlight God’s faithfulness, such as Isaiah 9:6-7 or Luke 1:26-38. Reflect on how God has fulfilled His promises in the past, and let that strengthen your hope for the future.
2. Practice Patience
Use Advent as an opportunity to slow down and savor the season. Whether through prayer, journaling, or lighting Advent candles, create space to focus on God’s presence and promises.
3. Engage in Worship
Advent hymns like “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” or “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” are powerful ways to center your heart on Christ. Worship renews our hope and reminds us of the joy to come.
4. Serve Others
While Advent is a time of waiting, it’s also a time of action. Serving others through acts of kindness or generosity reflects Christ’s love and keeps our focus outward rather than inward.
The Hope of Advent
Advent reminds us that waiting is never wasted when we trust in God. The Israelites waited centuries for the Messiah, and their hope was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. Today, we wait with the same hope for His return, confident that God’s promises will come to pass.
As we wait, we are called to live with joyful anticipation, knowing that the same God who sent His Son into the world is faithful to complete His work in us.
As Lamentations 3:25 beautifully says, “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”
Conclusion
The beauty of Advent lies in its invitation to wait with hope and faith. It reminds us that God is at work in the waiting, shaping our hearts, strengthening our faith, and preparing us for His promises.
This Advent season, may we embrace the gift of waiting, trusting in God’s perfect timing and drawing closer to Him as we anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ birth and His glorious return.
See Also: Faithful and True: Holding Onto God’s Promises Through the Holidays