Scripture gives language to this longing:
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.— Isaiah 9:2
Advent reminds us that the world is not as it should be. We wait for peace, for justice, for restoration. It is a season that acknowledges longing, even groaning, as we continue to hope for what is not yet fully seen.
The apostle Paul captures this perfectly:
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Advent is meaningful not because everything is merry, but because God enters our world precisely when it is broken. It tells us that we don’t have to pretend. We can hold joy and sorrow in the same hands because light has stepped into the darkness.
For many, the season magnifies grief, loneliness, or the ache of what once was. The world says this should be “the happiest time of year,” but hearts often tell a different story.
Advent makes room for that reality. It echoes the Psalmist:
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18
Even when our hearts feel heavy, Advent whispers that God meets us there. The first Christmas wasn’t wrapped in perfection—it unfolded in a world longing for rescue.
Christians walk through the same valleys as anyone else. We grieve, we struggle, we wrestle with uncertainty. Outwardly, our lives may look no different. But inwardly, our hope is anchored in Someone greater than our circumstances.
Jesus said,
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33
Our joy is rooted not in a season, but in a Savior. Our hope is not fragile because it rests in promises God Himself has made:
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, — Hebrews 6:19
And because of this, even in sorrow, we lift our eyes to the future God has prepared. Augustine of Hippo described believers as citizens of the City of God while living in the city of man—passing through this world with our hearts set on a better one.
Scripture calls us the same:
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, — Philippians 3:20
The first week of Advent traditionally focuses on hope. Not vague optimism, but confident expectation rooted in God’s faithfulness.
- We are people of promise.
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. — 2 Corinthians 1:20
- We are people of light.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. — John 1:5
- We are people of a secure future.
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” — Revelation 21:5
Advent pulls us back into the bigger story—the story of a God who came near, who still comes near, and who will come again.
May this first week of Advent help us embrace both the honesty of our struggles and the certainty of our hope. Even in seasons of loneliness or sorrow, we wait not in despair, but in the glow of a promise already unfolding.
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! — Revelation 22:20
