We’re in the season of Advent because it’s almost Christmas. But some of us are in our own personal season of advent, a season of waiting for something new to happen. Are you in the middle of impossible? Are you looking for an escape hatch? This is just the moment when reaching out to God will make the biggest impact on your situation.
Our First Season of Advent
It was 1982 and I was twisting my long hair into a stylish chignon and checking my makeup. Of course, I wanted to look good for the pictures. Meanwhile Bruce was pacing frantically and insisting we get a move on for the hospital before it was too late.
I was in labor.
Twelve hours later I still hadn’t delivered our first baby. My stylish hairdo was unrecognizable and my smeared makeup gave me raccoon eyes. Bruce told me later that he seriously had thoughts of just giving up and going home. This was way harder than he expected. I was glad he didn’t voice his frustration! It was way harder than I expected too.
We were both overwhelmed and tired of waiting for this baby to come. We wanted to give up.
Mary and Joseph in their Season of Advent
I’ve been pondering what it must have been like for Mary and Joseph during her labor and delivery of Jesus. We don’t know much about it, Scripture only gives scant facts.
While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him ina manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:6-7 NASB1995
We don’t know if Mary found a midwife to help her or if Joseph rolled up his sleeves and pitched in. Dads wouldn’t be allowed in the delivery room for at least 2,000 more years. Joe would have been out of his element, to say the least.
There were plenty of reasons for the Holy family to give up. They weren’t in a nice, clean delivery room like we were. And they were dealing with rejection because Mary was an unwed mother. In those days she could have been stoned to death. In the last month of pregnancy I could hardly walk to the end of my driveway, let alone travel 90 miles on a donkey like Mary did.
But they didn’t give up. They endured a formidable labor and delivery. And they escaped at midnight flight to a foreign country when an angel warned Joe that Herod was out to kill Jesus.
I’m sure Mary and Joseph didn’t feel adequate for the challenge God invited them into. They probably felt like giving up many times. But they didn’t. They did their best with what they had and they depended on God night and day.
Your Season of Advent
Are you in the middle of impossible? Looking for an escape hatch? In 45 years of marriage we’ve encountered many seasons of advent. They are really hard.
But in the hard is just the moment when reaching out to God will make the biggest impact on your situation. He longs to show you His vision of your potential. He deeply desires for you to experience His power and grace and love in the middle of your mess. Look up and receive His peace, especially when it makes no sense at all. Your perspective will change and your life will follow.
So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG
Download my free resource, Marriage Prayers to get started on learning about God’s perspective in your marriage. You’ll receive a list of simple prayers you can pray, 30 for you and 30 for your spouse. Prayer is a wonderful way to wrap your mind around God’s plan for your marriage.