Waiting in the Darkness

‘Tis the season of waiting… Advent is short this year, which is unfortunate because the longevity of a month increases the anticipation of Christmas. But what can we do? It is what it is, and we still have time to enter into the longing. As most people are scurrying around finishing up last-minute shopping and decorating their houses, we as the children of Christ, are called to wait for the advent (“coming”) of Christ. Of course, we probably have last-minute shopping as well (I know I do!), but we have the greater call of preparing our hearts for the greatest gift of all.

Personally, this Advent has been the most significant one for me yet. It’s the first time in these days leading up to Christmas that I’ve truly longed for Christ. As many of you know, I’ve been through the hardest three months of my life. I’ve experienced heartbreak and loss in a way I never have before. Though it’s been difficult, God  has been faithful. He has continually asked me, “Randi, do you still love me, even in the pain?”. And I’ve had to work hard to say “yes”. I’ve never had to work so hard to find joy before. If you know me, I’m a pretty happy person most of the time! But what I’ve found is an even deeper joy-a joy that remains even in the darkness. That’s the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness depends upon external circumstances, but joy endures through all trials. Joy is knowing that I am the Beloved of Christ, redeemed by His blood and given new life. I am part of the best Story ever told.

So as Mary waited for the Son of God to be born, may we wait with her. As she waited, the Mystery of God was incubating in the depths of her womb. God was slowly forming beauty in the darkness that would soon unfold in the light. Mary had said “yes” to God’s plan of salvation, even though she did not know the pain and suffering that would follow her the rest of her life. But what she did know was that God was faithful and would bring beauty out of any pain. So she waited in her pregnancy, knowing that this Mystery inside of her would bring healing to the world.

What are you waiting for? Have you found it difficult to be patient? Patient comes from the Latin word patior which means “to suffer”. Henri Nouwen says that,

“Waiting patiently is suffering through the present moment, tasting it to the full, and letting the seeds that are sown in the ground on which we stand grow into strong plants.”

God is allowing you to wait because He is creating something beautiful that requires time and patience. Allow God to enter into your darkness this season. Anticipate the joy that will arrive Christmas day, the joy that can only come through knowing that you are Christ’s Beloved. He came to this earth as a babe to save you and to bring you into His love.

Practical challenge: Unplug for 20 minutes today and sit in silence. Forget your to-do lists and contemplate on the love and joy found in Christ.

The image I used is of Mary and Elizabeth at the Visitation. Here, Mary with the Christchild has run in haste to greet Elizabeth with John the Baptist. It is an image of Christ running to us, calling us to Him, saying to us,

“Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one,
and come!
“For see, the winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the dove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.
Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,
and come!”

(Song of Songs 2: 10-13)