Following Jesus Through the First Christmas: 25 Days of Advent TruthsSample

After the miraculous events surrounding Jesus’ birth—the angels, the shepherds, the wise men—Luke tells us something surprisingly simple: Jesus grew up in Nazareth.

No spotlight.

No public miracles.

And yet, that’s where God was at work.

Before Jesus ever preached a sermon or performed a miracle, He spent years learning, growing, and walking in obedience.

The hidden years were holy years.

We often want God’s work in our lives to feel big and visible, but much of His transformation happens in the ordinary. The hidden seasons, the daily routines, the long stretches where nothing seems to change—these are the very places where God shapes our hearts most deeply.

Nazareth in some ways was a wilderness—a time of testing, trying, and dependence on God.

But it was also holy ground. It was where Jesus learned obedience, humility, and trust in His Father’s plan.

The same is true for us. God is just as present in our unseen moments as He is on the mountaintops.

But in between those moments, allow God to show you how to delight there. Not just to endure the wilderness and not just to distract yourself in it. But delight — to see Him in it.

In the wilderness, God is close.

He is manna in the desert.

Water from the rock.

Comfort when no one else sees.

Strength when you feel empty.

Joy that doesn’t make sense.

So if you're in a season that feels small or slow, take heart. God is not absent—He's preparing you for what's ahead.

The wilderness is not punishment. It is preparation. It is presence.

And when you meet God there, no season is wasted. This period of your journey with the Lord can be weighty and sacred.

Pray:

God, thank You for meeting me in the quiet and hidden places. Teach me to see Your presence in the ordinary and to delight in the seasons that feel slow or unseen. Shape my heart in the wilderness, and remind me that even here—especially here—You are near and You are working. Amen.

Talk About It:

How have you seen God grow or shape you in a season that felt quiet, hidden, or slow? What would it look like for you to delight in this current season instead of just enduring it?

Worship:

Take a few minutes today to sit with this truth in song. Listen to Highlands (Song of Ascent) by Hillsong. Search for Following Jesus Through the First Christmas on Spotify by Biltmore Church for the full playlist.