Daily Advent Devotional

ADVENT WEEK THREE: JOY

December 15 Rev. Jenny Wynn

Joy in Hard Times

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4

During seminary I attended a women’s retreat. The organizers invited us to

pick a rock inscribed with a word. When I drew my rock, I was not pleased: my

word was happy. I quietly traded it in, only to find my new word was cheerful.

No better. Weeks later, in my Theological Reflection Group, our leader gave

everyone a rock with a word. I looked down. Mine read: joy. Really?

Why would the words happy, cheerful, and joy bother anyone?

Many people struggle to hold on to joy during Advent. It’s hard to rejoice in

a consumer culture that insists the perfect holiday can be bought when you

struggle from day to day to make ends meet. It’s hard to hold onto joy when

headlines are filled with violence and war.

In the confines of a prison, Paul offers insight on holding onto joy despite what

is going on in the world around us. Paul writes to the church in Philippi: “Re-

joice in the Lord always” (v. 4). How could Paul rejoice in prison?

Paul refused to give his captors power over his joy. His joy was not rooted in

circumstance or external factors, but in faith and a living, ongoing relationship

with God and with the faith community. Paul’s joy was a joy that endured and

sustained even in the hardest seasons.

How can a joy, grounded in faith, sustain you in this season?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ADVENT WEEK THREE: JOY

December 14 Rev. Jenny Wynn

Going Out in Joy

Isaiah 55:1-13

For you shall go out in joy and be led back in peace; the mountains and the

hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap

their hands. Isaiah 55:12

As I write this devotional on joy, news is breaking of another school shooting.

Two children died during Mass. How can I write about joy when I’m filled with

sadness and anger over senseless violence?

Isaiah’s words stare back at me: “For you shall go out in joy and be led back in

peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the

trees of the field shall clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:12).

Where is this joy? This peace? How do we go out in joy when nowhere seems

safe, not even places where children worship?

Isaiah’s prophetic words offered comfort to the exiles, who had been waiting

and praying for something more, giving them perspective beyond the tyranny

and violence of their world. The prophet envisioned a different kind of empire,

a place of Shalom.

In Advent, we follow the same rhythm: we wait and long for peace. Isaiah 55

reminds us that our task is to come, listen, see, and seek God. We must break

from the death-dealing ways of the empire and engage prophetic imagination

that seeks to transform our current world.

Our waiting isn’t passive complacency but active engagement. We’re called

to work toward transformation. We go out in joy not because our world is per-

fect, but in anticipation of what it can become with God’s help.

Even amid tragedy, we hold onto hope. Our joy comes from trusting that God’s

kingdom of peace is both promised and possible.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ADVENT WEEK TWO: PEACE

December 13 Rev. Mike Miller

The Peace of Advent

2 Thessalonians 3:1-17

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.

The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

In the midst of Advent, when the world is often rushing toward Christmas with

full-speed anticipation, this prayer in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 brings a gentle re-

minder that peace is not something we find by striving or planning, but some-

thing that God gifts to us, in every season and at all times.

This blessing over the Thessalonians is a prayer for divine peace to flood

their hearts, not just in moments of quiet, but in every circumstance, whether

in moments of joy or in trials. And as we await the coming of Christ, we, too,

are invited to experience this peace. The Lord of peace is with us, and offers

peace that isn’t dependent on external circumstances.

Advent is a time of longing for the peace that Jesus brings into a broken

world. The Prince of Peace came not as a distant figure, but as Emmanuel,

God with us. His presence offers a peace that goes beyond mere tranquility.

It’s a peace that holds us steady in uncertainty, calms our hearts in worry, and

reassures us in fear.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ADVENT WEEK TWO: PEACE

December 12 Rev. Mike Miller

Advent Rest

Psalm 4

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell

in safety. Psalm 4:8 (NIV)

It seems as if true peace is rare since our world is filled with constant noise,

pressure, uncertainty, and hatred. It can be hard to feel peace as we move

through our days because we tend to pick up what others are sending out

into the world, whether it be positivity or negativity.

Often, it is in the darkness in our bedrooms that we begin to process the day.

It is in the silence of the night when we realize what we have been carrying

with us throughout the day. We can hyperfocus on all of the pressures and

problems that we feel and have encountered. And for many of us, this leads to

a feeling opposite that of peace.

But this psalm reminds me that God’s peace is not found when problems are

absent but God’s peace is found when we rest in the presence of God. And in

those moments when we rest with God, we are granted a glimpse of a life that

is full of God’s peace.

Advent invites us to reclaim that peace, the kind of peace that allows us to

rest, not because everything is perfectly calm, but because we know God is

in control. During Advent when we are busy with preparations for the season,

we too often forget to rest in the presence of God.

This Advent, may we find stillness in our hearts, even when the world around

us is loud and frantic. We can rest in the peace that God brings.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ADVENT WEEK TWO: PEACE

December 11 Rev. Mike Miller

Peace and Hope

Matthew 6:25-34

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns,

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than

they? Matthew 6:26

In Matthew 6:25–34, Jesus invites us into a radical kind of trust that confronts

our deepest anxieties about daily life. He tells us not to worry about what we

will eat, drink, or wear. At first glance, that may feel unrealistic. After all, these

are basic needs. But Jesus isn’t dismissing our concerns; He’s reorienting

them.

He points us to nature, to the birds of the air and the flowers of the field. They

don’t stress or strive, yet God cares for them. Jesus reminds us that we are

worth far more and if God provides for lesser things with such beauty and

consistency, how much more will God provide for us? Jesus is teaching us to

redirect our focus away from the stresses of life to a more peaceful way of

living. And when we do this, perhaps our daily needs will fall into their proper

place.

But it is not always easy to redirect our focus when life seems beyond our

control. It is not easy to live in a state of peace when there are people legis-

lating what we can and cannot do with our bodies, or who we are, or whom

we love. It is hard to live in peace when we see families being torn apart by a

callous and racist government.

But perhaps in these times, the peace Jesus brings is found in the hope that

Jesus brings. That hope is that one day our world will better reflect how Jesus

sees each one of us. That hope is that one day our world will reflect how Je-

sus cares for every one of us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ADVENT WEEK TWO: PEACE

December 10 Rev. Mike Miller

The Call of Peace

Romans 12:17-21

If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, love peaceably with all.

Romans 12:18

This passage from Romans 12 has been one of my personal favorite scrip-

tures along my faith journey. And it reminds me that if our journey as Chris-

tians and Christ followers is easy, I don’t believe we are doing it right.

Paul’s words here are challenging. “Do not repay anyone evil for evil... live at

peace with everyone.” These aren’t passive instructions; they are active calls

to peacemaking. Our call to be Christians is not a call to passivity: it is a call to

action. This kind of peace that we are called to create with God isn’t just the

absence of conflict, but it is the intentional presence of grace, forgiveness,

and humility.

As we reflect on the Peace of God this Advent, we’re reminded that Jesus

came not only to bring peace to us but also to make peace through us. Jesus

was not born into a serene, peaceful world, but into one filled with injustice,

fear, and political tension.

Still, Jesus chose peace and continues to call us to do the same. Our world is

still so full of injustice, fear, and political polarization. Our call as Christians is

to continue to create spaces of peace for all of God’s beloved: which is all of

us.

Advent is a season of expectation, wonder, and preparation — not only for

the birth of Christ but for the transformation Jesus’ coming brings. In a world

marked by division, resentment, and conflict, Romans 12 calls us to something

radically different: the way of peace.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ADVENT WEEK TWO: PEACE

December 9 Rev. Mike Miller

Peace in the Preparations

John 14:1-31

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the

world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be

afraid. John 14:27

As Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure, He spoke these words in

John 14:27. He knew fear and uncertainty would soon overwhelm them. And

yet, in the midst of impending chaos, Jesus left them with peace. This peace

wasn’t the absence of conflict but the presence of calm in the storm. It is a

settled assurance rooted in trust.

Advent invites us to prepare ourselves to receive that same peace. While the

world around us may pulse with anxiety, and distractions, or self-imposed

pressure to create the “perfect” Christmas Eve service, or to keep the peace

between warring family members as the mediator, Jesus reminds us that

there is peace.

This peace doesn’t depend on circumstances. It’s not earned through effort

or found in a quiet room or when we do everything “right.” But it is a peace of

presence. It is the peace that reminds us that no matter what is going on in

the world and in our lives that we can look to Jesus and find peace.

As we wait in expectation for the coming of the Christ Child, may we also re-

ceive this gift of peace with open hearts. May we be reminded that this gift of

peace is not here just for a moment, but is here for every season, every strug-

gle, and every heart.

In the quiet of Advent, we pause to remember the promise of peace, not

the fragile, fleeting kind the world offers, but the deep, enduring peace that

comes from above.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ADVENT WEEK TWO: PEACE

December 8 Rev. Mike Miller

When Mountains Crumble in Advent

Isaiah 54:1-17

For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast

love shall not depart from you and my covenant of peace shall not be re-

moved, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10

Advent is a time when we are to prepare our hearts to celebrate the coming

of the Christ child. But sometimes in the middle of the busyness of our prepa-

rations for Christmas services and celebrations, the uncertainty we see in

the world, and even sorrow that can surface during this season, Isaiah 54:10

offers a grounding truth: God’s love is unshakable and no matter how busy or

uncertain or sorrowful we are, God’s love will always surround us.

Mountains and hills are some of the most stable features in nature and can

represent the unshakable parts in our lives. Yet even if they were to crumble,

God assures us that this divine love will not. Unfortunately we know that the

seemingly unshakable parts of life can be easily disrupted. Relationships may

fail, health may falter, finances can collapse, but in all of these moments, God

speaks a profound truth: God’s love for each of us remains unshaken.

Isaiah 54:10 is a powerful promise for those who feel as though their world is

falling apart, especially during the holiday season. When we feel like our life is

in a season of chaos or grief, this verse becomes an anchor. It shifts our focus

from what is shaking around us to the one who remains steady. It reminds us

that even in the storm, we are not abandoned. God’s compassion is near, per-

sonal, and unrelenting.

So whether we find ourselves on a mountaintop of joy or in a valley of difficul-

ty this Advent, hear God’s words: “My love for you will not be shaken.” Let this

promise steady you. Let it soften your hurried soul and remind you that God’s

love and peace is always near. Let it draw you into the quiet awe of the sea-

son.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ADVENT WEEK TWO: PEACE

December 7 Rev. Mike Miller

Peace in the Valley

Ezekiel 37:1-14

I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your

own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says

the Lord. Ezekiel 37:14

Advent is a season of waiting. It is a time to prepare ourselves for peace and

new life coming into a very weary world. Ezekiel 37:1–14 gives us a vivid image

that speaks powerfully to this theme of new life.

Addressing the despondent and displaced exiles in Babylon, Ezekiel speaks

of a valley of bones that are not only dead, but long past the point of life. This

imagery reflects how many people can feel during the holiday season. Cut off,

forgotten, spiritually lifeless. But Advent reminds us that God does not aban-

don God’s people in valleys alone. Instead, God sits with them in the valleys

and promises restoration and new life.

In this scripture text, God commands Ezekiel to prophesy, and as he does, the

bones come together, flesh forms, and breath enters. What once was dead

stands alive again. This breath-Spirit of God is the same Spirit that hovered

over the waters at creation, the same Spirit that filled Mary’s womb, and the

same Spirit that brought and continues to bring new life into our midst.

During Advent, we sit in the tension between the brokenness of the world and

the promises of peace, hope, joy, and love. Ezekiel 37 reminds us that God

brings life where there is death, hope where there is despair, joy where there

is sadness, and love where there is hatred.

Our Advent journey reminds us that just as Jesus once came to a weary

world, Jesus comes again and again into our lives to make everything new.

As we wait, we do not wait in fear. We wait in hope—trusting that the God who

breathes life into dry bones is still at work, even in our valleys.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ADVENT WEEK ONE: HOPE

December 6 F. Douglas Powe Jr., PhD

Daniel 3:19-30

Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and

Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in

him. They disobeyed the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather

than serve and worship any god except their own God.” Daniel 3:28

Have you ever felt like you were in a dire situation? I am not sure it gets more

dire than being thrown in a furnace so hot that even those doing the throwing

die from the heat. I know when I have been in dire situations the tendency is

to feel sorry for myself or to try and figure out how I ended up in this situation.

Rarely do I trust that all will be well given the situation I find myself in at the

time. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego trust that no matter what happens,

all will be well for them.

The three of them are not letting the situation define who they are or their

outlook on life. They trust that they have been faithful to God and are not wor-

ried about the outcome of being in the furnace. In this instance God sends a

protector to be with them so that the flames do them no harm.

I am not suggesting that when we personally face a dire situation that God will

provide a solution in the way he did for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. I

am suggesting that we should learn from them that hope is connected to our

ability to trust that the future will work out. If we do not have trust in God, it is

hard to have hope that something transformative can happen. Trust is needed.

Many of us face dire situations at some point in life. The question is, “Will we

be able to trust that God will be with us during our trial? Can we maintain

hope for transformation even when the furnace is hot?” When we have this

kind of hope it means that we are not stuck defining our lives by the world’s

standards. Our hope is built on things not seen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.