An Audacious Advent: ReImagining the Heart of AdventSample

Hope: The Groaning and Glory of Advent

I have never longed for the Christmas season like I have this year.

The last few months have been nothing short of gut-wrenching as we’ve borne witness to the groans of creation. In this digital era, we’re bombarded 24/7 by images and stories our bodies were never meant to hold. Yet, as the days wear on, we arrive once again at the doorstep of Advent—with weary hearts and hopeful expectation.

When we picture the first Advent, our minds drift to a peaceful manger scene: Mary and Joseph huddled beside the baby Jesus, shepherds standing in awe, and a bright star suspended in a silent sky. But that image has been stripped from its original context. Those who experienced the first Advent didn’t emerge from calm—they traveled through profound darkness to reach the light of hope.

Under the heavy hand of Rome, God’s people longed for liberation. They expected a Messiah who would lead an uprising, overthrow oppressors, and reestablish Israel’s independence. And yet, the Prince of Peace came not with an army, but as an infant. Instead of seizing power, He subverted it—ushering in a kingdom built on justice and righteousness.

The prophet Isaiah proclaimed, “The government will be on his shoulders…and he will reign on David’s throne…with justice and righteousness forever." (Isaiah 9:6-7, NIV).

Together, mishpat and tzedakah form the foundation of God’s throne (Psalm 89:14). One ensures fairness under the law; the other restores dignity and community. Both are necessary for flourishing—and both are expressions of hope.

This kind of hope is not naïve optimism. It’s gritty, bruised, and grounded in the faith that God’s justice will prevail. It’s the tikvah of Israel—the cord of hope that tethers us to God when we can’t yet see the dawn breaking.

Paul describes this tension in Romans 8:18 (NIV), “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Creation groans. We groan. But our groans are not empty—they’re labor pains of a world being made new. This is what Advent invites us into: not passive waiting, but active, hope-filled groaning for God’s kingdom of justice and righteousness to come on earth as it is in heaven.

Advent Invitation:
This week, light the candle of Hope. As you do, reflect on where you see both groaning and glory in the world around you. Ask God to reveal one tangible way you can participate in restoring dignity and hope to someone in need. Let your hope move from sentiment to action—because Advent hope doesn’t just wait; it works toward the light.

Written by: Joy Flores