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choosing to rejoice
Rejoice. For the last several days, I have held this word in my heart. I have pondered and repeated it over in my head. I asked myself, “What does it mean to truly rejoice in the Lord?” In taking it a step further, I thought, “How would I describe to someone why I rejoice in the Lord, and why they also can rejoice in Him?" How wonderful it feels to delight in Him when we are cozied up on Christmas Eve and all feels right. But what about when everything is wrong? What about when our hearts are broken?
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o come, o come Emmanuel
We look back in history to see those who long waited for the Messiah to come. They saw him and rejoiced. They remained steadfast and hopeful even when at times it seemed that the vision tarried. We now are in their same positions, with our eyes fixed on the final coming. We have read the Scriptures. We note the signs given to us who believe. We keep watch over what we have been given to watch. We pack lightly for the journey, bringing ourselves and our raised hands as gifts to the One we adore.
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do not be surprised
Beloved, we are walking through a time in history that is rife with fear, confusion, division, and hostility. When we wake each morning, the uncertainty of what kind of world will greet us messes with our equilibrium. The weight of dealing with this imbalance day after day wears down our resolve. The unrest in our government, workplaces, social circles, and even in the last place we’d think to find it—our churches—is exacerbated by our seeming powerlessness, and we are tempted toward despair. Far from seeing the beauty in the mystery, it can feel dark and distressing. We long for those days in which we could take a free breath, unhindered…
