When it comes to Christmas, I need Advent.

I need the build-up.

I need the waiting.

I need the reminder Advent offers: God keeps His promise and Christ arrives, but not at first and not without waiting and wondering. 

Throughout Advent we are invited to reflect on hope, love, joy and peace, as we expect, prepare, anticipate, and give thanks.

Through the slow unfolding of the greatest story ever told we are drawn deeper in the faithfulness of God.

Advent is a journey worth taking, one that ends with the arrival of Christ our King.

The days leading up to Christmas do not erase the surprise of Christ’s arrival, but colors it with endless beauty, like a bride slowly walking the long aisle to the altar on her wedding day.

For me, during this season of Advent, there is something about waiting with empty hands folded open before they are filled.

Because they will be filled.

Scripture gives us a glimpse of what God has in store for His people, truths that invite us to keep waiting and looking.

Isaiah prophesied, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

The prophet Micah, some seven hundred years before Christ's birth, tells that Jesus will be born in Bethlehem.

Then, in the early chapters of Matthew and Luke, we hear of the arrival of the One we’ve been waiting for - the one who meets our waiting, fills our empty hands, and changes everything.

Advent doesn’t allow us to skip to the good part, but invites us to welcome the unknown as we walk through the waiting and wondering.

When I think about Advent, one word comes to mind: Hope.

Hope is not optimism and it is not foolish.

It is agonizing, but it is not foolish.

Hope is tireless.
It is resilient.
It is certain.

You cannot have hope without waiting, for if you are hoping for something you are living without it, waiting for its arrival.

Anticipation builds as you scoot to the edge of your seat with eyes open and empty hands cupped, ready to receive.

Hope prepares the desire of your heart to become a reality.

Day after day you endure the wait, faithfully expecting with a mind wondering:

Will today be the day?
Will today be the last day I have to wait?
Will my prayer be answered?
Will my waiting be turned into joy?

You endure the silence and struggle that comes with waiting.
You navigate the questions and doubts and even the darkness as you wrestle with God, begging for the wait to be over.
But it is the gentle and steady hand of hope that offers comfort and reminds you to keep anticipating the arrival of the coming light.

Hope draws close and whispers, “Good is on the way.”

And it is. 

It is hard to wait, just like it is often hard to hope, but these two cannot be separated.

Together they lead us to groan, long, and wrestle as we expectantly wait, trusting the light will arrive and darkness will be no more.

The soundtrack of the Old Testament is groaning, a tired song sung as God sends His one and only Son.

A song we know all too well.

Groaning is the sound of hope.

Today, as we wait, we sing this tired, but faithful song.

We groan as we endure for Christ to arrive, to come again.
We slow down and lean in and hold fast as we prepare for our desire to be met.
We journey forward as we wrestle with God.

This Christmas, don’t try to skip to the good part.

Wait.
Prepare.
Expect.
Endure.
Groan.

And one day our eyes will see and our groaning, longing, and wrestling will be met, just like it was met that night in Bethlehem.

After all, God keeps His promise and Christ arrives, but not at first and not without waiting and wondering and groaning.

About the Author

Tanner Olson is an author, poet, speaker, and podcaster living in Nashville, Tennessee.

He is the author of I’m All Over the Place, As You Go, Walk A Little Slower, and Continue: Poems and Prayers of Hope.

You can find Tanner Olson’s books on Amazon.

His podcast is The Walk A Little Slower Podcast with Tanner Olson and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.

Tanner Olson travels around the country sharing poetry, telling stories, and delivering messages of hope.

You can follow Tanner Olson on Instagram (@writtentospeak) and Facebook where you’ll daily find encouraging words of faith and hope.