I’ve spent most of December binge-watching cheesy Christmas movies and reminding myself that I didn’t need the perfect family picture to send to everyone that would most likely end up in the trash anyway. We all know that our cards end up three places: framed, on the fridge, or in the trash. {Gasp}

We feel the pressure to rush, to check everything off our list and have everything perfect for Christmas. Many times I have marked everything off the list and found myself in a sea of wrapping paper on Christmas morning wondering, “Is this it?”.

There is a gentle unrest inside of us all because we are not home yet. We feel out of sorts and that we are missing something because we are. We are unsure how to communicate the longing and the waiting of Christ.

We are held waiting, waiting to feel a little more of Him and a little less of the commercialism that feels so empty.

He came.

He is coming again.

And so we enter into a time of expectant waiting instead of just waiting.

We pray that we can truly feel the depth of what expectation really means.

The weary world feels loud with angry fists in protest instead of sounds of rejoicing. And I wonder, “You really came for all of this?”

And in my heart I know that the answer is yes.

He came low and vulnerable to do what only He could do.

There still hope, a flicker in the hearts of man, that there is more. Not all are angry; some bow their hearts low finding themselves wrapped in vulnerability from needing more than gifts can bring. They need peace and a place to fit no matter the shade of skin or position that they hold, and so they wait.

It’s hard to wait and most of the time I am doing it all wrong. I’m just waiting; so I will press on to find myself wrapped in expectant waiting knowing that it is different.

I will let my heart long for more of Him. My heart bowed low and vulnerable in a place of waiting knowing that the depth of the word longing is more than a fifteen-minute prayer and rushing.

To long is a craving, a yearning, a hunger burning and when we feel it, we often rush past it because it requires change inside of us.

There is so much chaos in the world right now, so many names to be lifted up in prayer, so much discord. We need the light and we need it now.

We need the kind of light that chases away the darkness.

So, I sit waiting and praying that I will understand the Light and that I will be the light.

I read about the beginning and ponder the glory, the Word put on flesh and dwelt among us.

(John  1:14)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1: 1-6)

The NKJV it says, “the darkness did not comprehend it.”

The joy of Christ is in knowing that the light is not only greater than darkness, but it will also outlast the darkness.

Our Savior came wrapped in flesh and dwelt among us. Christmas falls flat when we focus on on anything else besides worshipping Jesus, the One who rescues us from darkness.

Lord,

Burn bright in us we pray. Teach us what it means to abide in Your light, to wait with expectation, to shine and not be afraid of the darkness. Help us to love those who are hurting well and mend the torn things in this broken world.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

Much love,

Jennifer