Advent 2021: Slow Down and Breathe
"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah - Psalm 46:10-11
“Be Still” [hb. rāpâ] the Psalmist writes, literally to relax, sink down or be quiet.
Advent is a season on the church calendar to intentionally slow down and wait on the coming of the Lord. One of the earliest prayers of the Church is the Aramaic word, “Maranatha,” which means, “Come, Lord Jesus.” The Latin word “adventus” is the same prayer, meaning “the coming” or “arrival.” Advent can be understood as the church in waiting for the coming of the Lord. Advent has been observed by the global Church as early as the late 300’s AD. It is good to pause and think about what we’ve received from our historic, apostolic faith. There is a rich history and tradition that has been handed down to us over the last two-thousand years. Some things don’t need to be reinvented; they need to be revisited over and over again. The keeping of Advent is one such thing.
We must choose to slow down this Advent season and let our souls breathe and adore the Lord Jesus. We are standing amidst the rushing currents of the hurry of the Christmas season. The movements of that stream pushing against our feet, trying to sweep us into its frenzy. A continual stream of present shopping, family visiting, party planning, and noise. Everything in the retail culture for the next month is working to speed us up. “Catch this deal now! Get the house ready now! Plan the parties, buy the gifts, don’t forget that, make sure you do this!” Anxiety, worry and fear, with a twist of urgency, is a deadly holiday cocktail for the soul. Working against this current is no easy task.
Yet, in the midst of it all, we are exhorted by the Scriptures to be still, sink down into the knowledge of His sovereignty, relax the tension of anxiety, worry, and fear until… you know that He is God.
All this hurry is the enemy of love. They are mutually exclusive. You can’t hastily adore something. You can’t rush and worship simultaneously. The busyness of this season is coming like a tidal wave. Without proper care, that busyness will quench the fire within. Like tending to a fire, it takes intentionality, planning and work to keep it alive. This will not happen by accident. What a tragedy it would be to arrive at the other side of this glorious season of waiting, anticipating and joyful celebration with a burnt-out, overwhelmed soul, feeling less of His Presence and less wonder in our worship.
As we enter Advent season this year, we are slowing down to remember the first coming of the long-awaited One. The One who was in no hurry. The One who unfolded a prophetic storyline from the Garden of Eden, set apart a nation and led them through the wilderness, raised up kingdoms and tore them down; Adam to Abraham, Abraham to David, David to Daniel, Daniel to Zechariah. All of it culminated in 400 years of silence as heaven prepared to reveal the King. Thousands of years of waiting to reveal His glorious promises at the appointed time.
At the same time, we are looking forward and longing for His second coming. Like the fathers of old, we are still believing in the promises of that same King revealed in a manger to return to make all things new. He will destroy Satan, cleanse the earth of evil and reign from Jerusalem. Yet even then, He will be in no hurry. He will slowly, over a thousand years, renew and restore the earth from the devastations of sin and injustice. He will slow down to work with us in this restoration. (Rev 20)
Lastly, we are anticipating the breakthrough of His presence in our lives now. That breakthrough will not come through the exertion of human energy, striving, or anxiety. No, it will come as we make room for His Presence to kindle the fire of love in us. When we let our adoration deepen and let our worship expand, we will find Him there, the One who has been patiently waiting for us.
Slow down and breathe.
Remember that we are caught up in a glorious story that is millennia in the making. What was promised in the Garden was revealed in Bethlehem. What started in a manger in Bethlehem will finish on a throne in Jerusalem. Even so, Maranatha, come Lord Jesus.
Prayer:
O My soul, slow down and breathe. Father, I will be still and know that you are God. You are God, and I am not. You are big, and I am small. My life is a vapor, but You are eternal. Jesus, I will rest and cast all my worry, all my fear and all my anxiety upon you because I know you care for me. Holy Spirit, I ask you for the grace to slow down and be still this Advent season. Help me to resist the temptations of hurry and worry. Let my anxious thoughts be silent and cause my heart, my mind, and my soul to rest in love. Amen.
