‘God hides His most precious treasures in our most difficult and painful experiences.’ - Jon Bloom
Over the last several years I have more closely followed the rhythms and seasons of the Church calendar. As a worship leader, it has been helpful in my planning and preparation, as a Christ-follower it has helped me experience the connection to a diverse, global, eternal body of believers. (1 Pet 2:9, Rev 7:9, Is 9:7)
The older I get the more I see and experience the pain of living in a broken, fallen world. And that is why I love Advent - because I have often asked God, ‘Do You know how hard it is down here? Do You see how painful it is?’ And Advent reminds me that not only does He see the pain and difficulty, He answers it with Himself. ‘But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.’ (Gal 4:4-5)
Sin and brokenness do not just affect humanity - it is as offensive as it is painful for God.
He pursued relationship, we chose death (Gen 1:26, 2:17, 3:6-7).
We hid, He covered us (Gen 3:8, 3:21).
He came to His own, we did not receive Him (Jn 1:11).
We deserve death, He gives us His life (Rom 6:23).
The One who knit Mary together in the womb of her mother became humanity knit together in Mary’s womb (Ps 139:13, Lk 1:30-33). The One who saw the sorrow we experience did not stand far off but became the Man of Sorrows - acquainted with all our grief (Is 53:3). The One who saw us in our sin became sin so that we might become His righteousness (2 Cor 5:21).
Advent is the continuing story of a God who has never had a ‘plan B,’ but has always sought His Son’s greatest glory, and His children’s good. ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…’ this is the joy and pain of God Himself experienced (Jn 3:16, Is 53:10, Heb 12:2).
This is the joy and pain of Advent.
’Everything sad is going to come untrue and it will somehow be greater for having once been broken and lost.’ - Tim Keller
Lord, thank You that You do know our sorrow and pain. From the groans of ‘it’s not supposed to be this way,’ to pain that is soul-piercing, You know and You have experienced it all. Allow us to approach this Advent season with gratitude, wonder, and worship. In Your name, amen.
Waiting,
AB