2025.11.30_ALL_IS_CALM_1_WAIT.docx

This sermon invites us to reconsider our relationship with busyness, especially during the Advent season. While our culture and even our religious routines often drive us toward constant activity, God’s invitation is to return, rest, and wait in stillness. Drawing from Isaiah and the Psalms, we see that God’s people have always struggled to trust in God’s timing, preferring their own plans and solutions. Yet, God’s response is not to turn away, but to wait graciously for us, offering mercy and hope to those who will wait for Him. The birth of Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise, and Advent is a season to remember both His faithfulness in the past and His promise to come again. We are encouraged to make intentional space for rest, reflection, and hope, trusting that God will fulfill His word.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True strength is found not in frantic activity, but in quietness and trust. The world equates busyness with value and control, but God’s way is countercultural: He calls us to rest and to find our worth in Him, not in our accomplishments. This kind of waiting is not passive, but an active posture of faith that opens us to God’s direction and peace.
• 2. God’s faithfulness is the foundation for our hope, both now and in the future. The promises God made to Israel were fulfilled in Jesus’ first coming, and we live in the tension of waiting for the fullness of His kingdom. Remembering God’s past faithfulness gives us courage to trust Him with what is yet to come, even when we cannot see how it will unfold.
• 3. Waiting on God requires humility and surrender. Like the psalmist, we are invited to quiet our souls and let go of the need to solve every problem or control every outcome. This humility is not resignation, but a childlike trust that God’s provision and timing are better than our own striving.
• 4. Advent is a season to practice hope by making space for God. Choosing to rest, to say “no” to some of the busyness, and to reflect on God’s promises are acts of faith that shape our hearts. These practices help us notice God’s presence and prepare us to receive the peace and joy He offers, even in the midst of a chaotic world.
• 5. God’s invitation to wait is an invitation to deeper relationship. He is not distant or indifferent, but graciously waits to show us mercy. Our willingness to wait in stillness signals our trust in His character and His word, and it is in this space that we experience the hope, justice, and peace that only Christ can bring.

1. In Isaiah 30:15-18, what does God say is the way to be saved and to find strength? How did the people respond to this invitation?
2. According to Psalm 131, how does the psalmist describe his attitude and heart before God?
3. In Isaiah 9:6-7, what are the names and roles given to the promised child, and what is said about his kingdom?
4. The sermon mentioned that Israel was “busy making a life without God.” What were some examples given of how they tried to solve their problems on their own?

1. Why do you think God connects salvation and strength with “returning and rest” and “quietness and trust” instead of with action and busyness?
2. The psalmist compares his soul to a weaned child with its mother. What does this image communicate about trust and dependence on God?
3. The sermon says that God waits to be gracious and show mercy, even when His people turn to their own plans. What does this reveal about God’s character and His relationship with us?
4. Advent is described as a season of waiting and hope. How does remembering God’s past faithfulness help us trust Him with things we are still waiting for?

1. The sermon challenges us to reconsider our relationship with busyness, especially during Advent. What are some specific activities or habits that make you feel hurried or distracted from God? Is there one you could say “no” to this season?
2. God’s invitation is to rest and wait in stillness. What would it look like for you to make intentional space for quietness and reflection this week? Is there a time of day or a place where you could do this?
3. The world often tells us our value comes from what we accomplish. When do you feel most tempted to measure your worth by your busyness or achievements? How can you remind yourself that your value is found in God?
4. The sermon suggests making a daily appointment to read Scripture or use a devotional. What is one practical step you could take to build this habit into your routine during Advent?
5. Waiting on God requires humility and surrender. Is there a situation in your life right now where you are struggling to let go of control? What would it look like to trust God’s timing instead of your own?
6. The psalmist “calmed and quieted” his soul before God. What helps you quiet your heart when you feel anxious or overwhelmed? Are there practices (like prayer, worship, or journaling) that you find helpful?
7. God’s promise is that He will fulfill His word. As you think about the coming of Jesus and His promise to come again, what gives you hope today? How can you share that hope with someone else this week?