Advent for Christian Leaders, Part 2: Finding Hope in the Waiting

Have you ever found yourself trudging through the days? Focusing on "getting through" instead of expecting the best, the miraculous, or the beautiful to happen?

 The first theme of Advent - HOPE - reminds us to look beyond our circumstances, with a joyful expectation of how God will fulfill His promises to us.

God made the promise of a Messiah to Israel hundreds of years before Christ came to Earth. Hundreds. Of. Years. Whew! Can you imagine? The first few months or years were probably easy and Israel waited with expectancy. As the years increased between the promise and the fulfillment, hardship occurred, different life stages happened, and still no Messiah. Things didn't look like they anticipated.

Can you imagine Israel's perspective? Did they feel forgotten, overlooked, or behind? Did they question if they heard God right? Did they wonder if it was delayed because of disobedience? Did they wonder if they had missed God altogether?

Fast forward to the Gospel of Luke. At the beginning of the chapter we find Luke writing a complete, accurate, and first-hand recounting of the birth and life of Jesus Christ to Theophilus.

Elizabeth & Zacharias

Luke starts with Elizabeth and Zacharias, two faithful and upright Jews. The Angel Gabriel comes to Zacharias while he is performing his duties at the temple. He shares with him the wonderful news that the infertility he and his wife have faced would be healed, and the child would be uniquely used by God. Their son John would become "John the Baptist" - the forerunner of Jesus! He would prepare the nation to receive the long-awaited Messiah by guiding Israel in repenting of their sins and turning their hearts fully back to God.

Isn't this great news?!?! Absolutely... but Zacharias didn't believe it. He and Elizabeth were well past childbearing years. Even more, they had tried before and had not been able to conceive. Elizabeth has earned that dreaded label ... "barren." He had come to terms with their lot in life and didn't expect anything more. He had given up waiting on their blessing. Why was Gabriel bringing this up now?

Gabriel responded, but didn't address Zacharias' concerns specifically. Instead he reminded him of who he was, the authority he spoke with, and most of all who sent him to deliver the message - GOD. He also "helped" Zacharias build anticipation and expectancy in the process, because he removed his ability to speak until John was born. I bet he was hopeful and believing for the birth of John at that point!

Just as Gabriel said, Elizabeth conceived! She chooses to keep this blessing to herself and remained secluded for the first five months of her pregnancy. Her response is in direct contrast to her husband's. In Luke 1:24 she shares her joy for God's favor on her life and the removal of her disgrace (inability to have children before now).

Later in Chapter 1 (verse 63) we see Zacharias confirm God's Word by writing the child would not be named after him, but John according to God's direction. Suddenly he could speak again and he praised and blessed God. Zacharias had accepted and attached his hope to God's promise. He shared it when questioned, and refused tradition (naming a child after himself) to honor God's promise. His testimony impressed upon his community that this was divine and great things would come from John through God's direction.

Elizabeth and Zacharias are powerful reminders of how personal "failures" or "disappointments" can make us give up quietly. Still serving, still faithful, but no longer believing God for that thing. People can also label us by what we have or have not accomplished, and that can make us put up a wall to protect ourselves between the ache of our current circumstance and the hope God places in our heart. The disappointment can push us to accept less than what God has for us - even when He speaks directly to us about it.

The redeeming thing about this story is that even in doubt God still blessed them. He also created a condition that made Zacharias reliant on Him, unable to infect Elizabeth or John with his doubts, and joyfully expectant for the promise to come to pass. What a kindness!

Mary Meets Gabriel

Gabriel's next assignment was one month later when he was sent to Mary, Elizabeth's younger cousin. This time the message was to share that she would carry the Son of God! Mary didn't object, but she did have questions. She couldn't understand how this would happen when she had never been with a man. Her questions weren't whether or not it would happen, but how it could be possible without the physical acts normally required to make it happen.

Gabriel explains that the Holy Spirit will overshadow her and allow her to conceive supernaturally. As evidence that this can happen, and that nothing is impossible for God, Gabriel shares that her cousin Elizabeth is now in her sixth month of pregnancy. Once their conversation ends, Mary literally runs to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39) to see this miracle for herself.

As soon as Mary entered the house, and greeted her cousin, John responds to her presence. The Lord moves Elizabeth at the same moment and she shares this message with Mary,

"And blessed [spiritually fortunate and favored by God] is she who believed and confidently trusted that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her [by the angel sent] from the Lord."

(Luke 1:45 AMP)

Whoa! Elizabeth is a beautiful reminder that our life can be a monument of God's goodness. Mary reminds us that there is a blessing when we believe what God says and look for the fulfillment of His promises with confidence -especially when we don't have all the answers.

Simeon & Anna

As we move into Chapter 2 we see Mary and Joseph responding to the census request. All residents of provinces under the control of the Roman government were to return to their family hometown to be counted. While there, Mary delivers Jesus in a manger because all of the rooms were sold out. We're familiar with the shepherds and wise men, but I want to discuss two lesser-known characters - Simeon and Anna.

Simeon was a devout Jew and the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not pass until he had seen the Messiah. Prompted by the Holy Spirit he made his way to the temple. This was the same time Mary and Joseph were also on the way to the temple for the Jewish rites of purification and circumcision for Mary and Jesus, respectively, as well as to offer the customary sacrifice.

When Jesus was offered up for the rite, Simeon took him into his arms and declared, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, According to thy word; For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel." (Luke 2:29-32 KJV) Mary and Joseph were amazed by what Simeon said about the baby Jesus!

Before they could process Simeon's words, because Anna followed quickly. Now Anna, like Simeon was advanced in age. She was also a prophetess. For seven years she had been married to her husband before he passed away; she was now about 84 years old and committed to fasting and praying daily at the temple. She echoed what Simeon said, especially regarding Jesus' redemptive power for all in Jerusalem. (Luke 2:36-38)

Simeon reminds us that God may not give us a definite time for His promise, but we can trust that He will do it and bring us joy in its fulfillment! Anna reminds us that even when life doesn't go as planned, and it seems we got the short end of the deal, God is still faithful to use us in miraculous ways.

Your Story

In a year like 2025 when everything gets turned upside down, and things we thought were a given are now uncertain (i.e. a "stable" government job), having something - better yet SOMEONE - sure you can put your faith in makes a difference.

Just like Mary and Joseph during the census, a new ruler is in power and an accounting is happening. While we may not be traveling back to our family's hometown, we are having to return to basics in many areas.

We may be confronting a part of our heart that has been locked and the key thrown away. Now God is speaking directly to that shattered dream or failed attempt that hurts to revisit, and He is saying there will be new life there. How do we believe Him and try again?

Many places of the past we may have looked to for safety are now closed or at capacity. They are screaming "There's no room!", and we're left looking for safety, shelter, and protection.

We may be giving birth to ideas that have been in the works for months or years. Now we're trying to understand why God has us delivering in less than ideal conditions, literally in the mud.

We may be advanced in age, wondering when God will show us what He said many, many, many years ago.

We loved God, served, followed His Word, and life still fell short of what we desired.

So how do we face this? What do we do? How do we move forward when life doesn't match what God said?

HOPE.

We remember what God has already done. We look for an Elizabeth to remind us of God's goodness. We look for a monument of His ability to bring new life to barren places.

We remember that God is our safe place, He will be our shelter, and He will provide. We just have to remain open to how, when, and where He will do it.

We trust that the messiness is a part of our story. That God will use it to be a testament of His goodness and to break us from reliance on perfection.

We remember God works on His own timeline, but that He always keeps His promises.

We honor our grief, give it to God, and live a full life in every way possible.

Hope forces us to face our circumstances, but it doesn't leave us there. It allows us to submit them to God and take on a joyful expectancy that He will meet us where we are, address every need, and allow His presence to carry us forward. In His time. In His way. For His purpose.

Trust Him. No matter what, His promise always comes to pass.

That wraps our first theme on Advent - Hope.  Thank you for diving into this topic with me. I am learning so much as I study and write, honored to share it with you, and grateful for all God is sharing with me. I'll be back with Part 3 - Peace next.

I pray that as we cover each topic God opens your heart in a new way to the spirit and heart behind Christmas. May our relationship with Him deepen and expand through this series.

If you have any questions, tips, or favorite things about Advent that you'd like to share with me and each other, please send me a note here. I would love to hear your feedback on this series and your favorite takeaways in the comments below.

I'm excited to uncover these lessons together and to add a new layer to the happiest time of year.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lorin R. Carter

The Corporate Consultant