Don’t vent over advent!

This Sunday, the 3rd of December marks the start of the season of Advent. It is indeed the first Sunday of Advent. The time when we start preparing our hearts for celebrating the coming of Jesus. It is a time of joyful anticipation, however it can become a time of stress and dread for many as they head towards the season of peace and goodwill.

Instead of thinking about the amazing news of God coming to earth as a tiny baby to be the Saviour of all mankind, they are faced with shopping queues, mounting debt, fights with relatives and friends, the remembrance of lost loved ones and loneliness. It is not a time of joy, hope, peace & love.

I think that is because we lose sight of the Saviour amidst all of the tinsel, turkey & trimmings, and the season loses its meaning. Loses its reason. It just becomes something to be endured and not cherished.

There is no life to it without the life-giver.

The stress and fear that people of Israel were under when Jesus was born in Bethlehem is similar to how people feel in troubled parts of the world today; places where there is oppression and war. The Jews had been conquered, yet again, by a foreign power, this time the Romans and they were being ruled by a puppet monarchy. They were oppressed, like in the days of Moses, and were crying out to God for a deliverer. The song ‘O come, o come emmanuel’ resounds with this sentiment.

God in His goodness, mercy, faithfulness & grace heard their cries and sent Himself to be their Saviour, though he came in a way they could have never imagined.

So this advent, don’t allow the pressures to build up and lead you to ‘vent‘, but instead take time with Jesus, ‘Emmanuel – God with us’ and refocus upon the reason for the season (I know it sounds a bit trite, but it’s true) and allow his love to bring the peace to you that your heart needs.

Just like the Jewish people did all those many years ago, as you call our to God, He will be faithful to hear your cries and respond.

Let him know about your fears, your loneliness, your family troubles, your grief. He is big enough and strong enough to handle them all and bring the comfort you need.

Also if you want more information about Advent, perhaps you might like to check out a great resource from Youth for Christ – our Request website.

I’ll leave you now with a lovely song by Bebo Norman called Born to Die.

Be blessed and have a peaceful advent!