celebrating advent in the waiting seasons of life

"...she never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying."

// Luke 2:37 //

Happy December 1st friends and welcome to the advent season of 2024. It feels like December has quickly come after a week of extreme emotions and experiences... I am finding myself overwhelmed with gratitude at how well my precious mom is doing and approaching this advent season considering one of my favorites stories of the Bible... from Luke chapter 2.

This chapter tells the story of Anna and from the brief description that we receive about Anna we know that she had lived a long life and yet suffered greatly as she had lost her husband after only seven short years of marriage. Scripture tells us that she was a widow from that time until she was 84 years old. 

In a society that required many women to rely on men for basic survival, the story doesn't focus on the fact of what she lost or her concern for her survival but the story shares that she had spent her life waiting for the King of Kings and believing that he was coming.

One of the reasons that this story is one of my favorites is that scripture shares that she spent her life worshipping day and night, fasting and praying. Her sole focus was on the coming king and the on the celebration that she knew would come at the end of her waiting season. She chose to worship and celebrate in the midst of waiting all of those years.

Like many of you perhaps I have sometimes approached the Advent season with a myriad of different emotions- joy at our Saviors birth and yet discouragement at the things that I am still waiting for. I am challenged and encouraged and inspired by Anna- to celebrate in the midst of waiting. For so many people, including myself, there can be many emotions around this time of year and yet that is why I love the advent season. 

It is of interesting to note that the contrary to popular belief, the season of advent is rarely four weeks long and it can actually vary from year to year on what its exact length is. I find this particularly interesting for those that are waiting on a variety of different prayer requests and hopes and longings behind the scenes. In a waiting season we may never know exactly how long something may be or how long the journey might last. Our prayers can be answered in a second, or in the weeks or months or years to come. 

The advent season is a season of waiting and inspiration for us all. Like those who have gone before us and like Anna, we can find inspiration and encouragement in this season knowing that the God of light came into the darkness. May we find everlasting peace and incredible hope in this season as we celebrate the birth of our King as the true light of lights that has dawned.