A Thrill of Hope: 5 Advent Reflections & Prayers for Weary ParentsPrøve

Vulnerable God I marvel at the mystery that the God of all—the mighty One, the One full of power and wonder, the One worthy of every praise—entered our world not as a conquering king but as a vulnerable baby. He made Himself vulnerable, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy that “a little child will lead them all” (Isaiah 11:6, NLT). Jesus, our God-made-flesh, embraced humanity to the extent that He entered the most vulnerable human state: a newborn, just like the rest of us. Through extraordinary circumstances, like you and me, Jesus was knit together in the womb of a mother—“fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:13-16, NIV). He was a babe, tiny and vulnerable, swaddled and held close by His mother (see Luke 2:12). I have to wonder: Why would He have come in such a humble way? In the glittering overwhelm of our culture’s Christmas preparations, it’s easy to lose the cord that binds our celebrations together—this beautiful, incarnational mystery of Christ. When we relegate this cosmic reordering to an oversimplified greeting-card scene, it’s difficult to fathom a mighty God choosing to wear our human vulnerabilities. Jesus’ birth is a tangible offering of connection through vulnerability—a divine, redemptive reauthoring in the story of who we are. Though the words are familiar, may we reclaim our sense of astonishment as we hear about this ancient dream that became a reality: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6, NIV). Reflection Questions: 1. Why do you think Jesus entered Earth as a baby? 2. What do you imagine Jesus was like as a baby? 3. What does it mean that Jesus was fully Divine and fully human? 4. What does it mean to be vulnerable? Prayer: O Christ who dwells in us and among us, help us to be people of courage and vulnerability. Jesus, You went first, breaking through to our world as an infant, swaddled and held by a mother. We cannot begin to fathom the mystery of the Incarnation, but we delight in the awe of Your mystery. Your cosmic love transcends space and time, and You are worthy of every praise. In this Advent season, ignite in us holy wonder and sacred imagination. May we stay awake to the divine offering of connection that You so generously give us. May we feel safe, known, and loved, never forgetting that You’re always pursuing us and making a way where there is no way. You know what it’s like to be carried and to be the One who carries. May we take time to reflect on this beautiful mystery. Amen. Learn more about author Kayla Craig and her book Every Season Sacred by visiting kaylacraig.com.