Advent Week 2: Preparation, Peace

It's hard to believe that we're already heading into the second week of Advent! I love December, the Christmas songs, the lighting of the Advent candles, the decorations and of course the lights! It's my favorite time of year. However, it's also the time of year when it's easy to get too busy and caught up in our own lives and forget what Christmas is really about. That's why I'm writing this series on the Advent candles, to remind all of us, myself included, what this season is about.

The second candle of Advent stands for Preparation and Peace. Can you imagine being in the shoes of Mary or Joseph? Preparing for the birth of your first child? Who, oh by the way, just happens to be the Savior of the World! How much faith does it take to travel on a journey with God? Preparing for His plans but staying at peace with where He has you and where He's taking you?

Isaiah 40:1-3 says

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: 'In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God."

Preparation is hard. It means trusting God's plan no matter where He takes you. Staying at peace while preparing is even harder but it's what we're called to do.

Use this 2nd week of Advent to prepare for whatever God takes you through in the next year and learn to be at peace with it.