As I mentioned previously, the practice of advent has alluded me most of my life. I long to hold these ideals of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love but find myself typically holding things like Disappointment, Worry, Shame, and Anger. (Reading that I know makes you want to sign up to be my new BFF.)
But, if I’m being honest and removing my mask, it’s how I feel most days. I’m disappointed my life doesn’t look anything like I assumed it would. I’m disappointed my kids struggle in ways I’m not equipped to help or often feel I caused. I worry about our family’s finances, my children’s future, my health/Chris’s health, and on and on…
Shame. That my friend is a long story for a future post but let’s just say for now, I know it well.
And anger. That little word no Christian wants to admit they feel, yet as an Enneagram 1, I tend to feel it often-especially when the goodness of God I expected to experience doesn’t materialize.
So what in the world does all of this have to do with Advent & Elizabeth’s story?
The second week of Advent which begins tomorrow, is marked by the word peace.
For Elizabeth, and me (& maybe you too), I find myself wondering what the journey for peace looked like for her. I imagine shortly after she & Zachariah were married and the baby didn’t come, the peace began to evaporate. I wonder what life must have been like for her and how many years of living with friends & family speculating about her “hidden sin” that surely caused her infertility she walked through before she could find peace with herself & with God.
I wonder during this advent season if things for you aren’t quite like you had once hoped for or imagined; if the dreams you once had haven’t materialized; if the answer hasn’t come; if maybe it’s even died, could you do as Elizabeth did and find peace? Not peace that is dependent on your ability to push through. Not peace that is dependent on your ability to figure it all out or to wear a mask that pretends like the disappointment doesn’t hurt (when it has cut you to the core of your soul). Not peace that leaves you empty, hopeless, hurting, and alone.
But peace comes from your loving Father who wants to hold the lament, the shame, the anger, the worry for you and replace it with His peace. Peace that isn’t a pithy platitude offering from someone whose life is perfect.
Peace that cost Him everything.
Peace that was so precious He came into our brokenness and died for it. Peace that doesn’t pretend the pain isn’t real, but rather peace that shows His scars from His wounds from His pain that He chose to bear for you..for me..for Elizabeth. Peace comes from the only One who understands both how you feel AND knows how He will redeem this for your good & His glory, even if you don’t think redemption is possible.
Peace that has a promise of hope. A promise of joy. A promise of love. Peace that truly can transcend all human understanding if only we would trust Him just enough to hand our hurts, our sorrows, to the only One who can handle it & in return, hand us His peace.
The thing I want to offer you this Advent season is that it was never meant to be for the pretty, perfect, unbroken people. It was always meant for us. For those of us who feel lost. Those of us who are hurting. Those of us whose dreams feel crushed. Those of us who feel blindsided and alone.
The realization is that everything about Advent, about the birth, life, and death of our Creator Father is messy. And maybe somewhere in the mess, you, too can find His peace. The peace that He freely offers to us, undeserved, broken, messy people whom He loves. ❤️ ️
Rooted Leaders 