Twinkling lights, cheery greetings and joyful parties often hide a truth about Christmas.

It can be a dark season for some, as the lyrics to Elevation Worship’s Let Us Adore remind us.

For the unclean, the unholy
For the broken, the unworthy ….

For the wounded, for the hurting
For the lost, and for the lonely ….

For the outcast, the defeated
For the weary, for the weakest ….

Ten years ago, our family had its darkest Christmas when my mother died unexpectedly just four days before what was her favorite holiday. As dark and difficult those days were, we had a hope and a light. It’s the light and hope that the song celebrates in its chorus.

You came, Jesus you came
O come all ye faithful
Bow before our Savior
Come let us adore
The one who came for us
Glory in the highest
Praise the name of Jesus
Our King has come

The presence of Christ doesn’t take away the sorrow of the hurting at Christmas, but it does give you the comfort and grace to make it through you know that the One who came as a baby in the manger is the One who suffered, died and rose again. And, he will come again as the One who will make all things new.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

(Revelation 21:3-5)

And that gives you the strength to celebrate anyway, to sing when the last thing you want to do is sing, to light a candle at the Christmas Eve service when you just want to be alone, and to give to others when you have little yourself.

This is what brings light to our dark world.

This is what honors and celebrates our Savior.

What Israel anticipated has become our history – a history that is alive in Jesus Christ and awaiting another arrival. We wait in a different type of Advent, filled with anger, divisiveness, oppression, poverty, violence – all of which were present at the first Advent under Roman rule.

But then, as now, there were promises that brought hope. The Jewish people set their eyes on the prophecies of men like their great King David, and Isaiah, who spoke these words into the darkness of their times:

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. (Isaiah 60:1)

And these words that promised a time of justice and righteousness:

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

(Isaiah 9:6-7)

The light for which the Israelites hoped and prayed dawned in a Bethlehem stable.

Death could not extinguish the light. The crucifixion of Christ gave way to the glory of the resurrection, and the hope that lives today as we await His return in our own Advent season.

Meredith Andrews brings together the ancient Advent with our season of waiting today in her beautiful rendition of Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus. The added chorus of this song, featured in the graphic below, celebrates this more beautifully than I ever could.

Let’s not move too quickly into the season. Advent is to be a time of anticipation, of waiting for the promised One. It’s easy to want to skip ahead to the celebration, but there is much to learn and to experience in the anticipation that makes the celebration all the more joyous when it comes.

That’s what I remember most about Christmas as a kid. The month of December passed so very slowly. It seemed the weeks would drag on from the time I watched Santa arrive at the mall until Christmas Eve. The anticipation continued to build day after day.

Now, I wish I could bring back those days. Now, any longing for the celebration of Christmas proper can get lost in the daily grind to which is added all the preparation for the holiday. Instead of anticipation, we’re burdened with a sense of time slipping through our fingers.

So, what do you do?

Simplify.

Paper plates instead of fancy place settings.

Old decorations that have been in the family for years instead of poring over Pinterest for the newest and brightest.

Limit time on social media for time in the Scriptures (particularly those prophesying the coming of the Messiah) and a good Advent devotional.

Take time for cookies and dinner and adventures with the family. The house cleaning can wait until January.

And above all, no matter how tired, how weary I get … rejoice! Help is on the way. Christ has come.

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This is post in the ongoing Wednesday Selah series. After diving back into the work week on Monday and racing through all the tasks that Tuesday brings, let’s take a pause on Wednesday and lift up the name of the only One who matters – Jesus. Find out more about the word, selah, and its use in the Psalms here.

The season is upon us.

Stores have had their Christmas goods out for weeks now, competing with both Halloween candy and Thanksgiving decorations, but now the season begins in earnest. Some have already been battling crowds for Black Friday bargains, and others have been glued to the screen for online deals.

The calendar is filling with concerts, services at church, opportunities to serve at holiday events to help others, and all types of gatherings.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I want to take it slow this year. A little shopping here and there. Making cookies with the family. Planning our Christmas Eve dinner.

But I’m not going to allow myself to get overwhelmed with what the world tells me we need to do during the season.

I’m going to pull out a good Advent devotional, make a cup of tea each evening and remember why we celebrate. I want to settle into that place of anticipation that went before the coming of the Messiah and can live in our hearts again if we are willing to slow down.

The title song from Christy Nockels’ Christmas album is the perfect place to start the soundtrack for my season.

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This is post in the ongoing Wednesday Selah series. After diving back into the work week on Monday and racing through all the tasks that Tuesday brings, let’s take a pause on Wednesday and lift up the name of the only One who matters – Jesus. Find out more about the word, selah, and its use in the Psalms here.