There is so much buildup to a new year isn’t there? I think we tend to be let down so quickly in January because we build it up so much coming into the new year. We all love the idea of a fresh new page, a fresh new start, but I guarantee you, many of you guys, just like me, started January 1 (maybe even at 1 AM in the morning) with already a blotch on your new year. It could’ve been an argument. It could’ve been an unwanted thought that entered your mind and soiled day one of the new year. It could’ve been a missed opportunity — whatever it was — your new year was already spoiled.

Something I am coming to realize more and more is the only way for us to experience a fresh start is for our lives to be hidden in Christ all year long, not just December 31, not just January 1, but always. Whether you are a New Year’s resolution person or not, today I want to encourage you to hide yourself in Christ.

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. - Isaiah 43:19

I am praying that God would “do a new thing” in our lives in 2026! As you face a new year, keep yourself hidden in him. He will not disappoint. He will not let you down. His plans for you are for your good even if your year includes hard things. Hold your plans with open hands and trust your year to him.

The Word of the Year

Instead of New Year’s resolutions, we do a word of the year. It’s just one simple way to bring focus to our year. My word of the year for 2026 is “ABIDE”. I love this word. It is a word that has consumed my meditations recently. I am just starting to scratch the surface on the meaning of this word “abide”. I will be sharing more about this in the coming weeks here on this Substack and in the podcast, but for now, the verse that I’ve chosen for this word is not necessarily the passage you would expect.

The word “abide” shows up over forty times in the Gospel of John, but it also shows up in a specific passage that a lot of people associate with the word “abide” in John 15. Jesus teaches that the only way to produce fruit is to abide in him. Apart from him, we can do nothing. This would be the obvious verse to choose, but instead, I’m leaning on the Old Testament equivalent to the John 15 passage.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. - Psalm 91:1

There is so much in this one little verse that I can’t wait to unpack it with you! So much is stuffed into those words: dwell, abide, shadow, shelter, Most High and Almighty. Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we dive into those words. I can’t wait for all God is going to teach us through this one tiny verse!

I don’t know if you choose a word of the year or if you pick goals for the year or choose things you want to aspire to and accomplish, but I just want to encourage you with this simple reminder: Hold your plans for the new year in open hands. Allow Jesus to set the pace for your new year. Resist the urge to plan out your year and set yourself up for disappointment; instead, release your year to Christ. Give everything and everyone to him and know that the only way to turn a fresh page is hiding ourselves in Christ every day, every moment, every year.

Share Your Word

If you chose a word for 2026, I would love for you to share it here! Comment your word of 2026 below.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rootedwithrachel.substack.com

Today is our last day on this Advent journey through The Sounds of Silence. But it doesn’t end here. You are most likely still in your season of waiting or about to enter into a season of waiting. My prayer is that we would submit to God during every season, that we would treasure up in our hearts all the lessons he wants to teach us about ourselves and himself, and as we trust him, we would increase in wisdom and in favor with God and man.

Remember: Luke 2:51-52

And he [Jesus] went down with them [Mary and Joseph] and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. - Luke 2:51-52

Jesus, the Word made flesh, the Creator of all mankind, the Sovereign King of the world was submissive to his earthly parents. This was true humility. He obeyed their word, he followed their rules, he honored their authority, he willingly humbled himself while wrapped in our human flesh.

Mary’s response to his submission goes all the way back to her reaction to the shepherd’s visit and proclamation. While others wondered with amazement at the heralding of the news: “Today, a Savior has been born to you!”, Mary stored up all these things in her heart. Little treasures that she would no doubt draw from later. She had a front row view to the true humility of our loving God.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. - Philippians 2:5-8

Meanwhile, Jesus increased in wisdom, grew physically and found favor with God and man. This wasn’t because he had perfect parents, this was a testimony of God’s grace and faithfulness in the life of the growing Messiah. What an encouragement to us as imperfect parents. We are fully aware of our flaws, but God is writing our children’s story, weaving in all our imperfections alongside his faithfulness and grace. He matures us through parenting and he grows our children in spite of our parenting. As we submit to his guidance and obey him, we treasure these things in our hearts always, trusting that he is using all things, even our mistakes, to develop us into mature followers of Christ.

Reflect

As you move on from this journey, may you treasure these things in your heart. May we never lose the gift of the sense of wonder that waiting seasons bring. It’s so easy to forget God’s faithfulness when the waiting is over, or fail to see his faithfulness in the silence. So, whether you are in a season of waiting, experiencing silence, grappling with grief or sitting in a place of peace today, submit to his perfect plan. Treasure these little glimpses of his grace in the darkness. Trust that he is maturing you and growing you through the process. Bask in his favor resting on you because of Christ. Listen to the sounds in the silence.

Respond

Carry this breath prayer in your heart today:

Breathe In:

Jesus, you humbled yourself,

Breathe Out:

I submit to you.

The Journey

Thank you for following along on this Advent journey! My hope is that it brought you encouragement in whatever waiting room you find yourself in during this Advent season. Keep following my newsletter and podcast for what’s next. You can subscribe to my newsletter here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rootedwithrachel.substack.com

Seasons of suffering and silence grow us in ways we would have never grown if we had not walked though the fire. There are aspects about God and his character we wouldn’t have known had we not experienced those hard places. We learn about his faithfulness. His kindness in the encouragement from another believer. His provision. We often don’t see this in the middle. How many times have you come to almost appreciate your season of waiting because of how it made you stronger in the Lord and forced you to trust him more?

Remember: Luke 2:39-40

And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. - Luke 2:39-40

We don’t often think that Jesus would need to experience growth and strengthening. Remember, he is God in the flesh. The Creator of all mankind. He had to learn to walk and feed himself. He went through puberty. He faced temptations and struggles with the limitations that come with living in a human body. The amazing part of all this is that he did every bit of it without sin. He was tempted like we were. He struggled with the same things that we struggled with. He felt grief and pain and sadness and sickness. He walked through it all in purity, because the favor of God was on him.

Reflect

Our season of waiting and suffering is meant to strengthen us, to grow our faith, to make us stronger in our trust, to leave us more dependent on him. Whatever you may be facing right now, know that God is strengthening you and growing you in the process. But more than that, rest in the fact that because of Jesus — because he lived a perfect, sinless life — that life is gifted to us. When God looks at you, he sees his perfect Son. His favor is resting on you, even IN you!

So, in your current circumstance right now, as you trust in Jesus, as you wait, know that God‘s favor rests on you. He is strengthening you through the trial and growing you. He will give you wisdom as you wait if you simply ask.

Respond

Carry this breath prayer in your heart today:

Breathe In:

When I feel weak,

Breathe Out:

You are my strength.

The Journey

This journey will take us through December 25th. My hope is that it would bring you encouragement in whatever waiting room you find yourself in during this Advent season. Each daily podcast will be short and sweet, leaving you with something to carry in your heart as you wait. You can also subscribe to my newsletter here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rootedwithrachel.substack.com

You know what it feels like when you are tired, exhausted and ready to go home, but someone asks you at the last minute to do them a favor? Or a child asks you to pick up something from the store on the way home? You really just want to go home, but you stop by the store anyway, or you do that friend a favor because you care about them. Sometimes, God asks us to remain in a place of waiting and suffering because he has work to do there. We really just want to leave, move on from this hard place and on to brighter days, but God is asking us to shelter in place.

Remember: Matthew 2:13-15

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” - Matthew 2:13-15

I wonder if Mary and Joseph felt the same way. They had already made a very stressful journey including a birth among animals with lots of strangers visiting. I’m sure all they wanted to do was go home as a new little family. But God had other plans that were not only part of their protection, but also part of the fulfillment of his word through the prophet Hosea. God was taking Mary and Joseph back to the place of slavery for their people. The last place someone would search for “The King of the Jews.”

Perhaps the hardest part was there was no end in sight. An angel of the Lord told Joseph in a dream to “flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you.” Until I tell you. Not a week or a month or even a year, they had no idea how long they would stay in Egypt. How interesting that they (along with Jesus) would experience the same waiting that Israel felt when they were slaves in Egypt for 430 years?

Reflect

Sometimes we can feel like our season of waiting will last over 400 years! We would love nothing more than to say goodbye to this season, to go home. But sometimes God has us remain in a season of waiting to do something in our hearts and in other people’s hearts. He is moving circumstances and time, sometimes even protecting us during our season of exile. Mary, Joseph and Jesus remained in Egypt for approximately two years. While they sheltered in place, they didn’t stop living,

Today, if you are feeling like you are ready to be done with this season; I pray that you would trust that God is working in the waiting. Sometimes he asks us to remain — to shelter in place — so that he can prepare things for our relief. See your situation as a God-ordained place of shelter instead of a place of slavery. Trust his plan. Trust his timing. Don’t let this season keep you from living in the exile, “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness” (Psalm 37:3)

Respond

Carry this breath prayer in your heart today:

Breathe In:

God, you ordained this place of shelter

Breathe Out:

Help me cultivate faithfulness here.

The Journey

This journey will take us through December 25th. My hope is that it would bring you encouragement in whatever waiting room you find yourself in during this Advent season. Each daily podcast will be short and sweet, leaving you with something to carry in your heart as you wait. You can also subscribe to my newsletter here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rootedwithrachel.substack.com

Have you ever known someone that just seems to always find the perfect gift? They are the best gift givers. Gift giving seems to come naturally for them. It is their joy to give gifts as an act of love and service to those they adore and appreciate. Some people are just amazing at finding and choosing the perfect gift. Even though the gifts chosen are simple, the joy in which they are given transforms the simplest of gifts into the most meaningful of gifts.

Remember: Matthew 2:9-12

After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. - Matthew 2:9-12

The wisemen followed the star until it rested over the place where the child was. This long-awaited, highly-anticipated Shepherd King. And they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. How do you even describe their joy? They rejoiced with overflowing happiness. The joy of finding the One they had been searching for turns into unhindered worship. They fell down and worshiped him. All their questions and curiosity and journeying led them to the answer. But they didn’t come empty-handed. They came bearing gifts.

These gifts weren’t just random items they had with them, they were planned and specifically chosen for this Shepherd King. These meaningful gifts presented to Jesus represent so much more than wealth and extravagance. Gold was the gift of royalty. A gift for a king and something given to support Mary and Joseph during their travels and escape to Egypt from the murderous plans of Herod. Frankincense was often used in temple worship by the priests. Myrrh was used at Jesus’ burial. Three gifts for this tiny baby who was a Kind King, a Perfect Priest and the Savior of the world. Each gift shows the thoughtfulness of the gift givers.

Reflect

Where has your journey through waiting led you? Joy is possible when we journey toward Jesus. He is a Kind King, a Perfect Priest and your Savior. We are constantly asking for his gifts, praying for him to bless us, but how do we worship him in our waiting? What meaningful gift will you bring to him? Sometimes, the gift we bring is simply a sacrifice of praise. Praise when our hearts are still hurting. Praise when the silence hasn’t lifted. Praise when the waiting is long. This is a sacrifice. It costs us something to lay down our expectations and wants and time-tables on the altar.

Every gift-giver will say that they derive more joy from giving gifts than from receiving gifts. A sacrifice of praise is our gift to Jesus that causes our hearts to rejoice with overflowing happiness, not because our circumstances have changed but because he remains the same. Our Kind King, our Perfect Priest and our Sinless Savior born for us. Rejoice in this.

Respond

Carry this breath prayer in your heart today:

Breathe In:

Jesus, you are worthy

Breathe Out:

Of my sacrifice of praise.

The Journey

This journey will take us through December 25th. My hope is that it would bring you encouragement in whatever waiting room you find yourself in during this Advent season. Each daily podcast will be short and sweet, leaving you with something to carry in your heart as you wait. You can also subscribe to my newsletter here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rootedwithrachel.substack.com

How do you typically react when God’s plan doesn’t fit with your expectations? Sometimes our rescue comes from small and insignificant places. Our silence breaks when we least expect it to and in ways we would never have imagined.

Remember: Matthew 2:3-8

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” - Matthew 2:3-8

A small, quiet town was the setting for the Savior’s birth. The least of all places to expect a king to be born. A ruler who will have a true shepherd’s heart. One who could not be swayed by public opinion or bought with money. A Shepherd King worthy of worship.

Each of Israel’s kings had the reputation of failing miserably. Not one of them was completely good. They all had corrupt places in their hearts, some greater than others. Herod was a puppet king, impotent in power. Rome was calling the shots. So, you can imagine the jealousy that filled his heart at the news that a child had been born with the title “The King of the Jews”. The wisemen’s journey was of great interest to him, not because he was a truth seeker, but because he wanted to protect his position. He secretly wanted to nip this rising king in the bud before he could steal his throne. He didn’t really want to worship him, he wanted to wipe him out.

The people were longing for a king who would rule with justice and kindness, a king who was pure in heart. They were waiting on the Shepherd King that Micah had promised would come to Bethlehem. But just like us, their expectations of what this would look like, was nothing like how they thought it would play out.

Reflect

In this season of waiting and silence, your Shepherd King steps in quietly. Even though you feel forgotten, he is still working and leading in kindness. Perhaps your season feels small like Bethlehem. God uses those unseen seasons as an opportunity to grow your faith. Silence does not mean absence. Your Shepherd King is working behind the scenes. He leads you gently through your season of waiting. Trust his shepherding heart.

Respond

Carry this breath prayer in your heart today:

Breathe In:

Shepherd King, you are working

Breathe Out:

I trust your heart.

The Journey

This journey will take us through December 25th. My hope is that it would bring you encouragement in whatever waiting room you find yourself in during this Advent season. Each daily podcast will be short and sweet, leaving you with something to carry in your heart as you wait. You can also subscribe to my newsletter here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rootedwithrachel.substack.com

How many times have you wished God would put a sign in the sky telling you which way to go, what to do, which path to choose; just something that would give you a clear direction? I think we’ve all been there and we all wish we had a clear sign in the sky, a billboard that tells us what to do. But God works differently. He works in the realm of trust.

Remember: Matthew 2:1-2

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” - Matthew 2:1-2

The wisemen were given a sign. But they still had to step out in faith. God met them where they were, foreigners unfamiliar with the promises of Israel. They hadn’t personally experienced the privileges of the people of God; they did not practice the religious rituals, but they studied it from a distance. God gave them an unmistakable sign so that they would discover the king who was born for the world.

Even though a miraculous sign in the heavens started their journey they still had to take the journey and ask questions and search for the answers. A sign in the sky did not exempt them from trusting. They still had to step into the realm of trust.

Their goal was worship. Not comfort or riches or fame. They held wonder in their hearts and they stayed curious. They asked questions, moving them towards the truth. Trusting in the uncertainty brings us to a place of clarity.

Reflect

Maybe right now you wish you had a clear sign. You’ve waited for so long that you’re not even sure which direction to take. Like the wiseman, we are foreigners who must step into the realm of trust. We read the Christmas story we see the signs of the baby born in a manger and the star in the sky; and like these truth seekers, we must respond in faith. We must take the step to begin the journey. We must ask the questions and search for the answers. We must stay curious. And then we must trust and have faith in the promise fulfilled.

The wise men believed because they saw. We are called to believe before we see.

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” - John 20:29

Signs can point the way, but trust forms intimacy. This is where our faith is built. What is God asking you to trust him with today? How will you move forward in your season of waiting? What step of faith is he asking you to take? Will you step into the realm of trust, take the next step and trust him to make your path straight?

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” - Isaiah 30:21

Respond

Carry this breath prayer in your heart today:

Breathe In:

Jesus, I step into the realm of trust

Breathe Out:

Help me take the next step.

The Journey

This journey will take us through December 25th. My hope is that it would bring you encouragement in whatever waiting room you find yourself in during this Advent season. Each daily podcast will be short and sweet, leaving you with something to carry in your heart as you wait. You can also subscribe to my newsletter here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rootedwithrachel.substack.com

If you have ever experienced love and then have known the loss of that love, you are familiar with the unimaginable pain this leaves in your heart. Or maybe you long for love and hold the empty space of not having that need met yet on this earth. How do we remain faithful when we go through loss and waiting? How do we speak sincerity into the sorrow?

Remember: Luke 2:36-38

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. - Luke 2:36-38

Anna had experienced the pain of loss and the pain of waiting. Her name means “grace”. She knew love and loss. But yet, in her silence, she did not withdraw from God she drew closer. She did not depart, but worshipped with fasting and prayer, day and night. This became her love, this filled the space once occupied by loss.

Then, one day, a small humble family walked into the temple to obey the law and she immediately knew. Her heart was so in tune with God and His Spirit, that she recognized his coming even in the unexpected package of a child.

Anna’s name means “grace”. As she laid her aging eyes on this tiny infant, she was so confident, that even as she was walking toward him, her heart overflowed with thanksgiving. And she speaks of grace. She gives God thanks and she speaks of him to anyone who would listen, all those waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Simeon and Anna are both present as a modern day prophet and prophetess, to announce to the world that the waiting is over. The prophet’s promise has been fulfilled. Grace has come.

Reflect

If you are waiting today, follow Anna’s example. Don’t allow this season to draw you away from God, but instead, allow it to draw you closer to his heart. Worshipping in the waiting keeps your heart so in tune, that you recognize his work immediately even though it might be packaged in an unexpected way.

We don’t ignore the reality of the hard, but we speak sincere truth into the sorrow. Give thanks to him for every glimpse of grace you see in your life and in others. Speak of him to anyone who would listen. Speak of his goodness, even in your waiting. Speak of his faithfulness in your pain. Speak of his love that never gives up. Speak of his hope that fills the empty places in your heart. Speak of him to all those who are waiting. Don’t allow loss to steal your voice.

Respond

Carry this breath prayer in your heart today:

Breathe In:

Jesus, you are the gift of grace

Breathe Out:

Even in my sorrow.

The Journey

This journey will take us through December 25th. My hope is that it would bring you encouragement in whatever waiting room you find yourself in during this Advent season. Each daily podcast will be short and sweet, leaving you with something to carry in your heart as you wait. You can also subscribe to my newsletter here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rootedwithrachel.substack.com

My younger brother liked to always give us a little scare, you know, to keep us on our toes. I remember one time, we were out shopping with my grandmother and he suddenly was no where to be found. The panic from experiencing the sudden realization that a child is missing throws you into a frantic search. The fear that fills your mind on what might have happened or could happen is almost too much to bear.

Don’t worry, he was found, hiding in a clothing rack totally unaware of the unrest he caused in everyone’s mind. Or did he totally know the chaos he created as he watched through the cracks in the line of clothes hanging on the rack, amused at our crazy search?

It’s interesting to wonder what Mary might have experienced in Jesus’ short time on this earth. Thirty years of mothering that was every bit as real as any mother would experience. We only have a few snapshots at our disposal in Scripture and our imagination has to fill in the rest. We see Mary experiencing her own separation from her young son on a trip to the big city of Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Every parent knows the feeling of suddenly not being able to find your child in a public place. I wonder if he was always keeping Mary and Joseph on their toes? How do you even begin to parent the Son of God?

Remember: Luke 2:33-35

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” - Luke 2:33-35

Yesterday, we saw Simeon proclaim with joy that his waiting had ended upon seeing God’s salvation in his arms, wrapped in flesh, prepared in the sight of all the nations; a light for the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. Yes, they believed the truth that their child was Jesus, the promised Messiah for the Jewish nation, but a light to the Gentiles? This would have caused them to marvel. What does this mean? They were waiting for the promise of rescue for Israel, but for the Gentiles (those who were not Jewish) this light had also come, what does this mean?

Though this child brings comfort to many of God’s people, his life would also become a sign of opposition. He would be rejected by many. Many in Israel would rise and fall because of him. Then a word is spoken that cuts deep through a mother’s heart: a sword will pierce through your own soul also.

Mary would eventually find herself grappling with the ideas of what she thought the Messiah would look like and the reality of what she sees. An apocalyptic sword would pierce through her heart. She would experience every pain in a short span of thirty-three years.

The pain of child birth, a scary moment of a missing child, a push for him to reveal himself, unmet expectations, sibling speculations and witnessing the heartache of his rejection that would lead to the gruesome death of her son. As the soldier’s sword pierced deep into Jesus’ side, Mary felt the pain of the years pierce her own soul. This sword exposed hearts. It exposed her need for a Savior. Her job was to keep her child alive, but his job was to keep her alive forever.

Reflect

In your season of waiting, where have you experienced a severing? Where have you felt the searing pain of loss? The loss of a child, the loss of a job, the heartache of broken relationships, the death of a dream. How has God used these things to pierce your heart? How has your need for a Savior been recognized in your season of waiting?

He came to fulfill the law in every way that we could not. He came to bring light into our darkness. He was appointed for the rise and fall of many. Some would rise as they believed on him, others would fall in disbelief. He would be rejected and opposed because of who he was. He came to expose hearts with a sword and mend hearts with salvation. He came to keep us alive forever.

Respond

Carry this breath prayer in your heart today:

Breathe In:

Jesus, my heart is pierced

Breathe Out:

You mend my severed places.

The Journey

This journey will take us through December 25th. My hope is that it would bring you encouragement in whatever waiting room you find yourself in during this Advent season. Each daily podcast will be short and sweet, leaving you with something to carry in your heart as you wait. You can also subscribe to my newsletter here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rootedwithrachel.substack.com

Have you ever waited for something so long, that you almost gave up hope that you would see it in your lifetime? Maybe it is a prodigal child you are waiting to return to the Lord, or a broken relationship you are longing to see mended. When waiting is long it’s easy to give up hope; to quit praying.

Today we read about someone who waited their entire life to see the silence lifted; to witness God comforting his people Israel again with the coming of the Messiah promised by the prophets. He had come to the end of his life and was yet to see it fulfilled. Like so many who had gone before him, who died without seeing Isaiah 40:1 being fulfilled, he wondered if his time would pass before the time came. “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” The double dose of comfort promised to the people of God through his coming salvation, was it ever going to arrive?

Remember: Luke 2:22-32

And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” - Luke 2:22-32

The word consolation means ‘comfort’ and carries legal undertones. It’s closely related to the idea for the Holy Spirit (our “Helper”). Picture an infant crying and the mother steps in and consoles the child by nursing or soothing the baby; that is the image we see in the word consolation. As Jesus undergoes circumcision to fulfill the law; Mary steps in to console the baby after experiencing this painful step of obedience. Consolation, is God stepping in to comfort His people by fulfilling His promise of sending the Messiah.

Simeon waited for this comfort. A comfort that would stand up in God’s court. A legal advocate for our miserable state of sin. This is more than a worldly comfort found in earthly soothing tactics. It’s a comfort that our souls long for. A comfort only the Messiah can bring.

Reflect

Do you look for comfort to come from God? Do you wait for and anticipate it? Or do you seriously doubt he will ever come through for you? Wouldn’t it be nice to receive some kind of divine revelation assuring you that you would surely see this comfort (directly connected to your season of waiting) like Simeon did? Even if we don’t experience healing on this side of eternity, we have the hope that Christ will come a second time to bring eternal comfort, this is the consolation we now wait for.

In the waiting, we have this sweet gift of the God of all comfort who comforts us first by his Helper, the Holy Spirit and second by those who have received comfort themselves to then pass that comfort along to each other, filling in the gaps until he returns.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

The word comfort appears five times in these verses. This comfort gives us sight when silence blinds us. It opens our eyes to the future hope when our waiting feels endless and bleak. This comfort flows from God (God of ALL comfort) to us and spills on to others who so desperately need to be comforted. This is the sight we need in the silence.

Respond

Carry this breath prayer in your heart today:

Breathe In:

Jesus, I wait for your comfort

Breathe Out:

So that I can comfort others.

The Journey

This journey will take us through December 25th. My hope is that it would bring you encouragement in whatever waiting room you find yourself in during this Advent season. Each daily podcast will be short and sweet, leaving you with something to carry in your heart as you wait. You can also subscribe to my newsletter here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rootedwithrachel.substack.com