By He Reads Truth
“It’s always darkest before dawn.”
This saying, funnily enough, is not scientifically true. Step outside on any given night, and you’ll find that darkness throughout the night changes depending on cloud movement or the moon, and in the winter months, light can be affected if something like snow is reflecting the light. So why do we use this not-exactly-true saying to comfort one another?
In comparison, the breathtaking break of the morning sun across the horizon does make everything in the hours before seem much darker. Perhaps that’s why? Or maybe it just feels really good and hopeful? No matter the reason, what we know as believers is that the almost-true things are never nearly as comforting as the absolutely-true things.
This year’s Advent reading plan is titled The Dawn of Redeeming Grace, a sigh of relief for a world with a lot of darkness in it. And our time period is certainly not unique in this—perhaps the world did seem darker than ever back when that glorious dawn occurred, the birth of the Messiah. Back then, it probably seemed like hope, peace, joy, and love were growing dimmer by the day. But the truer truth is this: God was always at work. His promises to the prophets, priests, kings, and everyday people were still true, even though they couldn’t see the Light waiting to be revealed at the perfect time.
During Advent this year, we hope you connect deeply with the Old Testament scriptures and are filled with the eager anticipation of knowing that the Light has, in fact, dawned. As for this Christmas season, when things may seem dark and we need to be reminded of why we have peace and hope and joy, why we love and rejoice in the good news, let us read God’s promises together, anchored by the joy of celebrating the coming dawn. Even though we can’t see Him, we know He is at work. “Look, I am coming soon!” (Revelation 22:7).
We want to personally invite you to make time for yourself to open these Advent scriptures every single day. Let God’s Word be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105). This way, whether things seem dark now or even when they inevitably will, you will know that the Light, who came into the world at the first advent, will most certainly return once and for all. Together, let’s let our souls sigh with sweet relief.
Written by the He Reads Truth Team
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