The world we live in doesn’t often give us a chance to slow down and catch our breath. It’s fast-paced and doesn’t show signs of stopping.
Life happens. And it happens again and again and again. There are trials and tests and struggles. There is loss and hurt and change.
Even as we speak, I am in the middle of a transitional season. There are decisions to be made as soon as possible. There are several questions looming over me with no apparent answer. I’m honestly at both a crossroads and a loss. I don’t know which way to go or what to do.
I don’t normally do well with change. And this situation is no different. I very much wish I could say that I’m excited about what’s to come, but I’m not. I’m a bit fearful and worried. I’m concerned about the outcome. There are a million ways this could play out . . . some of them great and some, not so much.
When unexpected seasons come my way, I often think about Peter and the disciples in Matthew 14:25-32. When Jesus was walking on the water, the disciples thought He was a ghost and even cried out in fear. I understand that all too well. Jesus told them to not be afraid and to take courage. Those were words He had spoken numerous times before. Peter locked eyes with his Savior, stepped out of the boat, and walked on the water toward his Lord. Then, He took his eyes off of Jesus and focused on the wind and the waves. Immediately, Peter began to sink. Jesus graciously rescued him in the midst of all of his doubt. This, I also understand well.
How many times am I Peter in the story? How many times are you? How often do we take our eyes off of Jesus and fix them on the natural and temporal things of the earth? How many times do we see the Lord moving, and yet we still doubt?
During this Christmas season, I also think about Mary and her season of transition. She was just a girl with very little idea of the gravity of what God was asking of her. Luke 1:26-38 tells of the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary, detailing how she would conceive Jesus by the Holy Spirit. She was greatly troubled at his words. Again, God’s reassurance was to not be afraid. Mary’s response was that she was the Lord’s servant and that His will should be fulfilled.
What faith did it take for both Peter and Mary to look upon Christ, to trust Him, and to obey, whether it was for a moment or a lifetime? They were both in unforeseen circumstances. They were both met with a test of their faith. They were both challenged by where they would set their attentions.
We are faced with the same decision every day. It is ridiculously easy for me to look to the right and to the left. I often pride myself on being extremely independent and self-sufficient. I’m a problem solver. But, only one actually has the power to say that their word will never fail. Guess what? It’s not me.
The season of Advent is the perfect opportunity for us to slow down, remember the Lord’s faithfulness, and focus on Christ in the midst of the chaos surrounding us.
When Jesus was born, He came into the world bringing gifts to the broken, the weary, the lost, the hurting, and the confused. He came with the gift of hope. Titus 2:13 describes Jesus as our blessed hope. He is the gift of hope to the hopeless. He is the very reason why you and I can look forward with hope, knowing that His plans are for our good. He will never fail us. He is our faithful Father.
1 John 4:7-21 repeatedly tells us of all the ways in which God is love. It is because of His great love for us that He sent Jesus to save a dying world from their sin. It is through His love that we can love Him and love others. God’s love is what empowers us to even know Him, and to wait for Christ’s return. His love sustains us when the wind and the waves seem to engulf us. His love won’t let us drown.
Jesus’ birth was a great joy to Mary and Joseph and those who were foretold of His coming. There are numerous verses to speak of Jesus’ joy being made complete in us and His joy being our strength and finding joy in His presence. It is through His joy that I can consider it pure joy when I encounter trials. He is the lifter of our heads and our strong tower.
Jesus is called Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6. And 2 Thessalonians 3:16 calls Him the Lord of peace and then goes on to say He gives peace at all times, in every way. Repeatedly God is offering peace to His children freely. His peace is what anchors us to Himself, to His heart, and to His promises. We can rest in knowing His grace is sufficient for us no matter the thorn in our flesh.
Advent is the language of Heaven…hope, love, joy, and peace. And Jesus’ life spoke this language.
I am choosing to speak Heaven’s language throughout endless uncertainty.
I will gaze into His hope.
I will bask in His love.
I will dance in His joy.
I will rest in His peace.
If you find yourself in need of the hope, love, joy, and peace that are only found in the Lord, I’d love to pray for you!
Written by Karina Allen, from the (in)courage archives.
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Karina,
Your inspired words of the season of Advent ring true!
May God’s blessings lift you during this holy season.
I appreciate your prayers for God to heal each of my sons’ hurting, struggling hearts and bring peace.
Thank you,
Kathleen
Thank you Kathleen for reading and sharing! Praying for you to be blessed in this season as well. May the God of all hope encounter your sons’ hearts and minds with a deep work.
Oh my gosh \0/ AMEN \0/
Thank you for this beautiful message to start my day \0/
Yes and Amen Janet! Thank you for reading. Be blessed in this season.
Dear Karina….Please pray for me as I am in a dark season right now. My now ex-husband has dementia and tried to kill me, my son has called me and said he no longer considers me his mother and that he and his wife will never allow me to see or even talk to my one grandchild, a grandson who was just 11 when this started and is now 15. My sister has abandoned me after my mother died in 2016 and I don’t even know where she is or anyway to contact her. To add to this the Senior Living Facility where I live is very messed up and for all they are charging us, we don’t get half of because they don’t pay employees even the minimum. The food is toxic and has made many of us sick. My friends no longer contact me as they are too busy (I guess). So at this important Advent and celebrating the Birth of Jesus season, I am left alone and I am 78 years old. I know that God, Jesus and my Holy Spirit are with me, but many days it would be nice to have someone visit (a human being ) just to talk to and it does not have to be about all my problems, yet there is no one. Thank you, Karina for this wonderful devotion that reminds me there is always HOPE, but I do really need some peace of mind I was married for 56 years and even though he and our son deny that he has dementia, when I went to see him, he did not even recognize me and told me to go away even after I gave him my whole name. He did not even connect that my last name is still the same as his. This proved to me that the doctors were correct with their diagnosis. There is so much more to this, but I am trying to put some decorations up and I don’t have much time before we have to be at lunch. I wish you and your family a Blessed Advent and Christmas season with friends and relatives. One thing I do every morning is thank God for the (in)courage women’s community for with out these devotions every day, I don’t know where I would be. Love to you…………Betsy Basile
Praying for your situation and season Betsy. God is good and faithful.
i am in the middle of great trials and i am looking to Jesus to lead and rescue me. pls pray for me
Melody, thank you for reading and sharing. God is the God of rescue and redemption. He makes a way when there seems to be no way. I bless you with the wisdom of the Lord and open ears to hear the leading of the Holy Spirit. His leadership is perfect. Trust Him.
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen
I thank you ever so humbly fir praying for me. I was told that I not only have a mass on my adrenal gland, but on my ovary, and both masses along with the adrenal gland and ovary will be taken out. And until this surgery takes place the surgeons won’t know if these masses are cancer, or not. Still, and either way, they both will be taken out. There are other complications as the adrenal gland is right near major arteries. And lastly, should the surgery become more complicated then not only will my spleen come out but also a hysterectomy. Many things came go wrong including blood clotting, an artery being accidentally punctured, etc.. Needless to say I’ve been praying to Jesus and His Mother to Spare me. I’m a Believer and have Always been. I’m one of the first ones who have always shared my own faith with others in their own times of need. But here I am feeling so fearful, helpless, and so alone. And yet in my heart I know better. I know Not to placet Fear, over my Faith, and I know too that with Jesus I am Not helpless, nor Alone. Still, with each conversation I have had withy physicians my fears come racing back. And, now yo the point of me thinking of cancelling surgery. I am in fear of complications. There have been times that I find my self crying with Joy and for feeling the restoration of my Peace, and… thanking and praising Jesus for it. But then again the fear not only visits me again but takes me right over. I’ve been asking and so ever humbly to Jesus and Mary for a second chance at this Life that I’ve been blessed with, and a promise to share with all others what He has done for me, a sinner. And, that He Hears their cries and supplications, just as He has Heard me. Yes, I ask for a miracle that there is No Cancer, no complications, whether it be In Surgery, as well as In Post-Op. I ask for my God and for Greatest Physician, Jesus Christ, to have Pity and Mercy on my plea and to grant me His Divine Favor. I do Not come because I alone am Not worthy. But Only by and because of God’s Mercy Alone am I here requesting and plead with Him. And a favor that I will take with me and share with all others I come in contact with for the rest of my life. And, in order that They will be drawn more closely to Jesus in their own life. “Dear Jesus and Mary please Spare me, and please tell me whether or not I should go through with, what seems to be, major surgery.” And thank You here too for your much needed Prayers for me at this time, and what feels like I’m traveling in the most unknown territory. I also pray for all those who are also pleading with Our Father, for His ‘Merc.y.” Thank You and God Bless You for reading all of what’s on my heart, and for ‘Your own Prayers’ on my behalf.
Amelia, thank you for sharing. That’s hard. God is so good and faithful even in our trials and valleys. I speak healing over every part of your body. I rebuke every spirit of infirmity and Cancer. I command them to leave your body. In Jesus’ name. I say all pain leave. I speak to every part of your body to align with the design of God. I bless your body with divine health, your mind with peace and your heart with hope.
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.
Recently moved to new home on other side of the country. We expected the transition to hv some bumps in the road but its been a 10 car pile up instead. My faith has been shattered although i try to pretend otherwise but at the moment its going through the motions to hopefully keep my kids focused on Jesus but truth is i think they’re faith is in limbo as well. Christmas this year feels bare and faked. Im grasping but cant seem to grab any kind of joy or peace this Christmas. I cld use prayers, not for our circumstances improve, but that our hearts can find their way back to Jesus