Scripture: Luke 1:14 (NRSV)
“You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth”
Reflection
Before joy arrives, hope lays the foundation. Zechariah is told that joy is coming long before he can believe it, long before he can speak it. Hope becomes the soil from which joy eventually grows. This is the gentle rhythm of Advent: hope first, then joy; longing first, then fulfillment; uncertainty first, then surprise.
Our fear often tells us, “Don’t expect too much.” Fear tries to limit our imagination and convince us that joy is rare or fragile. Advent gently suggests the opposite: make room. Make space for what is possible. Make space for God to act in ways beyond your current understanding. Hope stretches us to anticipate joy, not as a luxury but as something God deeply desires for us.
Advent invites us to become people who prepare for joy—not by controlling outcomes, but by opening our hearts to possibility. Lighting a candle, offering a prayer, slowing down for a moment of quiet—all these small practices nurture an inner landscape where joy can take root.
Application (Action)
Create a simple expectation practice today: light a candle and pray, “Prepare my heart for joy.”
Writing Prompt
What kind of joy do you hope God will nurture in you this season?
Prayer
Generous God, prepare my heart for joy. Let hope expand my imagination so I can embrace the new things you long to grow in me. Amen.