Let Hope Awaken...

Before we start, I want to invite you to simply pause and take a few deep breaths. Release anything that might be burdening you right now, and give yourself permission to engage with God as you read. 

Take as long as you need. When you are ready, let’s consider the first aspect of Advent: Hope

The season of Advent brings to us, front and center, our soul’s deep longing for the arrival of something new–something that restores, something that heals. It awakens our deep longing for hope. 

Like a child counting down the days until Christmas morning, Advent is not a passive waiting; it is active preparation. It is clearing the path. It is making a way, not just for Jesus’ arrival in Bethlehem, but for His arrival into our lives today.

As you pause and consider your own sense of hope, allow Advent to lean in softly and ask:

“What if the Messiah came close again—into this very moment?”

What stirs in your soul as you consider this question? 

You see, hope is not simply wishful thinking. It is a confident expectation rooted in the very character of God. We prepare our hearts for hope when we dare to imagine—truly imagine—that Jesus wants to meet us, heal us, walk with us, and restore us now.

Advent Practice: Make Room for Hope

Ask yourself: What hope have I quietly stopped believing in?

Write it down. Then pray:
“Jesus, restore my hope. Remind me of Your presence with me today; may my soul find refreshment and hope in You, amen.”

May hope rise in you this week, not because your circumstances shift, but because Christ draws near. May you sense His footsteps on the path you are clearing.

-Nate

Featured Excerpt from Clearing the Path

“If you feel abandoned by God, don’t give up hope. He may feel distant, but He is a God who pursues—both our hearts and us. When He comes… it may very well be through a gentle whisper, and your heart will be oh so refreshed to hear it.”