Advent Day 4
Titus 2:13 “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”
This time of year takes me back to waiting for Matthew to be born.
We didn’t think we could have another baby. But God had different plans.
Our miracle.
The knowing and the not yet.
Knowing Matthew was coming—seeing his face on ultrasound, choosing his name, preparing his room. But not yet holding him. Not yet seeing his eyes open.
The waiting felt blessed. Because I wasn’t waiting alone.
We chose the name Matthew before knowing what it meant. Later we discovered: “Gift from God.”
Born December 18th—one week before Christmas. An Advent baby.
Already and not yet!
This is Advent’s tension.
Already—Christ has come. We know His name. Immanuel.
Not yet—He will come again in glory. We haven’t seen Him face to face.
We wait in the knowing and the not yet.
But here’s what makes this waiting blessed: we don’t wait alone.
Paul doesn’t say “anxious hope” or “desperate hope.”
He says “blessed hope.”
The Greek makarios means happy, fortunate, favored. Not grit-your-teeth waiting. Blessed waiting. Hope-filled waiting.
Why? Because of WHO we’re waiting for.
“The appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
When pregnant with Matthew, my waiting was blessed because I knew who was coming. My son. My gift from God.
Your Advent waiting is blessed because you know who’s coming. Your Savior. Your Immanuel.
When I waited for Matthew, he wasn’t with me yet. He was coming, but not present.
When we wait for Christ’s return, He’s already WITH us. Immanuel. God with us in the waiting.
We celebrate His first coming. We anticipate His second coming. And in between? He walks with us. Holds us. Never leaves.
What are you waiting for?
The hope of Advent isn’t just that Christ came or that He’s coming. It’s that He’s WITH you right now, in the waiting.
You’re not waiting alone.