Finding Peace and Hope in Advent's Anxieties
Summary
In this season of Advent, as we approach Christmas, it's common to feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. The hustle and bustle, the expectations, and the family dynamics can weigh heavily on our hearts. It's important to name these anxieties before God, acknowledging them as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. This season invites us to reflect on the profound truth of God with us—Immanuel. In the story of Joseph, we see a man facing a lifequake, a moment when his world is turned upside down. Yet, in his darkest hour, God breaks through with a message of hope and reassurance. Joseph is reminded that he is not alone, and neither are we.
God's presence is a constant in our lives, especially in our moments of crisis. He is our Wonderful Counselor, guiding us with wisdom when we are lost. He is our Mighty God, providing strength when we face seemingly insurmountable challenges. As our Everlasting Father, He assures us of our identity and belonging in His family. And as the Prince of Peace, He calms our anxious hearts, grounding us in His unchanging love.
The birth of Jesus is a reminder that God enters into our existence, not just to be with us, but to save us from the things that seek to destroy us. Our pride, our fears, and our faulty thinking are all met with His transformative love. In the midst of life's uncertainties, we are called to trust in His presence and let Him guide us.
As we navigate this Christmas season, let us remember that God's got this. He is with us, offering His counsel, strength, and peace. We are invited to lean into His love, allowing it to change us and empower us to be His hands and feet in the world. May we find comfort in knowing that we are never alone, and may His presence bring us joy, hope, and love.
Key Takeaways:
1. Naming Our Anxieties: Acknowledging our anxieties before God is the first step in experiencing His peace. By naming our fears, we open ourselves to His presence and guidance, allowing Him to transform our worries into trust. [08:05]
2. God's Presence in Lifequakes: In our darkest moments, God is closest to us. Like Joseph, we may face lifequakes that shake our foundations, but it's in these times that God's presence becomes most evident, offering comfort and hope. [30:50]
3. Immanuel—God With Us: The birth of Jesus signifies God's entry into our lives, assuring us that we are never alone. He is with us to save us from our sins and to break the darkness that surrounds us. [33:06]
4. Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God: God provides wisdom and strength in our times of need. As our Wonderful Counselor, He guides us, and as our Mighty God, He empowers us to overcome challenges that seem impossible. [37:00]
5. Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace: Our identity as God's children is secure in His everlasting love. He offers us peace in the midst of anxiety, reminding us that nothing can separate us from His love. [38:17]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [08:05] - Naming Our Anxieties
- [11:49] - Call to Worship
- [12:22] - Prayer of Confession
- [13:56] - Forgiveness and Transformation
- [25:01] - Children's Time and Carols
- [28:06] - Joseph's Lifequake
- [30:50] - God's Presence in Darkness
- [31:46] - Do Not Fear
- [33:06] - Immanuel: God With Us
- [37:00] - Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God
- [38:17] - Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace
- [39:46] - The Sea Lion Parable
- [41:50] - God's Intervention and Mission
- [44:14] - Personal Anxieties and God's Assurance
- [50:35] - Prayer for Strength and Peace
- [54:08] - Final Blessing and Hymn
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 1:18-25
2. Isaiah 9:6
3. Psalm 139:7-10
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Observation Questions:
1. What anxieties are commonly associated with the Christmas season, as mentioned in the sermon? [08:05]
2. How did Joseph initially react to the news of Mary's pregnancy, and what does this reveal about his character? [29:47]
3. According to the sermon, what role does God's presence play during our "lifequakes"? [30:50]
4. What are the four titles given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6, and how do they relate to the sermon’s message? [37:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does acknowledging our anxieties before God help us experience His peace, according to the sermon? [08:05]
2. In what ways does the story of Joseph illustrate God's intervention during times of crisis? [30:50]
3. What does the name "Immanuel" signify about God's relationship with us, and how is this reflected in the sermon? [33:06]
4. How do the titles "Wonderful Counselor" and "Mighty God" provide insight into how God supports us during difficult times? [37:00]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a current anxiety you are facing. How can you name it before God and invite His peace into that situation? [08:05]
2. Think of a "lifequake" moment you have experienced. How did you sense God's presence during that time, or how might you seek His presence now? [30:50]
3. How can the understanding of God as "Immanuel" change the way you approach challenges in your life? [33:06]
4. In what ways can you seek God's wisdom as your "Wonderful Counselor" in a specific decision you are facing? [37:00]
5. Identify an area in your life where you feel weak or overwhelmed. How can you rely on God as your "Mighty God" to provide strength? [37:00]
6. How can you embrace your identity as a child of God, knowing Him as your "Everlasting Father"? What practical steps can you take to live out this identity? [38:17]
7. Consider a situation where you need peace. How can you actively invite the "Prince of Peace" into that area of your life? [38:17]
Devotional
Day 1: Naming Our Anxieties Before God
In the midst of the Advent season, it's easy to become overwhelmed by the pressures and expectations that accompany the holidays. Acknowledging our anxieties before God is a crucial step in experiencing His peace. By naming our fears, we open ourselves to His presence and guidance, allowing Him to transform our worries into trust. This act of vulnerability invites God into our struggles, reminding us that we are not alone in our journey. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us bring our anxieties to God, trusting in His ability to provide comfort and peace. [08:05]
"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22, ESV)
Reflection: What specific anxieties are you carrying this season? How can you intentionally bring them before God today, trusting Him to transform your worries into peace?
Day 2: God's Presence in Lifequakes
Lifequakes, those moments when our world is turned upside down, can leave us feeling lost and alone. Yet, it is in these darkest moments that God's presence becomes most evident, offering comfort and hope. Like Joseph, who faced a lifequake when he learned of Mary's pregnancy, we too can find reassurance in God's unwavering presence. He is closest to us in our times of crisis, guiding us through the storm and reminding us that we are never alone. As we navigate life's uncertainties, let us lean into the promise of Immanuel—God with us. [30:50]
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent "lifequake" you have experienced. How did you sense God's presence during that time, and how can you seek His comfort and guidance in future challenges?
Day 3: Immanuel—God With Us
The birth of Jesus signifies God's entry into our lives, assuring us that we are never alone. Immanuel, meaning "God with us," is a profound reminder that God is not distant but intimately involved in our lives. He enters into our existence to save us from our sins and to break the darkness that surrounds us. In the midst of life's uncertainties, we are called to trust in His presence and let Him guide us. As we celebrate Christmas, let us embrace the truth that God is with us, offering His love and salvation. [33:06]
"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39, ESV)
Reflection: How does the reality of "God with us" change your perspective on the challenges you face today? In what ways can you invite His presence into your daily life?
Day 4: Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God
In times of need, God provides wisdom and strength. As our Wonderful Counselor, He guides us with divine wisdom, and as our Mighty God, He empowers us to overcome challenges that seem impossible. When we feel lost or overwhelmed, we can turn to God for guidance and strength, trusting that He will lead us through. His presence in our lives is a source of hope and empowerment, enabling us to face life's difficulties with confidence. Let us seek His counsel and rely on His strength as we navigate the complexities of life. [37:00]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need God's wisdom and strength today? How can you actively seek His guidance and rely on His power to overcome your challenges?
Day 5: Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace
Our identity as God's children is secure in His everlasting love. As our Everlasting Father, He assures us of our belonging in His family, and as the Prince of Peace, He calms our anxious hearts. In a world filled with uncertainty and anxiety, God's unchanging love offers us peace and security. Nothing can separate us from His love, and His presence brings us comfort and hope. As we journey through life, let us rest in the assurance of our identity in Christ and embrace the peace that He offers. [38:17]
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:15, ESV)
Reflection: How does knowing your identity as God's child impact your sense of peace and security? What steps can you take to embrace and live out this identity in your daily life?
Quotes
And so, sometimes it's really good just to kind of name them. And so, we have in here a place for you to name whatever might be on your heart with a bit of anxiety. Just to name them before the Lord. And so, and later on. If you don't name it, you're going to really be disappointed in the sermon. So, I'm just going to let you know. Name it. [00:07:46] (25 seconds)
That in the dark moment, it's when God's presence seems ever closer. It's where we're comforted, where we get a word, where we get hope, where we get circumstances start to shift and change. And that's exactly what happens with Joseph. He begins to get the context. He begins to understand what's going on. [00:30:59] (28 seconds)
we find in the scriptures that the name of God who God is this one who is with us with us is defined in isaiah 9 6 we're told that a child will be born and this government will be upon his shoulders and he will be called wonderful counselor mighty god everlasting father prince of peace so not only is god always with us in the lifequakes but he's he's there to save us and the way he saves us is that he's a wonderful counselor [00:34:04] (34 seconds)
at the table. It's unconditional love. It's part of a bigger family. A parent is, and it's forever, and something in our souls just cries for connection, and he's saying, I am everlasting father. Like, I will always be your father. I will never die. I am always with you, and so you have my identity. You have my DNA. You have my family. You have my protection. You have my provision. You have my love, my name. [00:37:10] (35 seconds)
In this mountain of anxiety, you can begin to pray, and I will begin to take it away. In his presence, things begin to find the thing that was a mountain becomes just but a grain of sand. Things get perspective. In time, we begin to realize that nothing can separate us from his love, and as we begin to pour out our heart, we always find his peace. [00:38:33] (30 seconds)
It's like having the best marriage. You just want to be with that person because their very presence brings you life. Sin is being separated from Jesus. God is like, it's like a desert. This parable that John Eldredge talks about, a particular sea lion, who lived in a desert, and he was there in the desert for a long, long time. It was dry, and it was the only life that the sea lion knew, but something in him longed for more, and [00:39:40] (32 seconds)
And because God lives, because God is with us, Emmanuel, we begin to know more and more peace, more and more wisdom, more and more joy, more and more hope, and more and more love. That's what Jesus does. He is the wonderful counselor offering wisdom and guidance when we're lost, when we're lost and confused. He is the mighty God providing strength when we hit impossible situations. He is the everlasting Father reminding us of our identity as beloved children, even when we feel worthless and abandoned. [00:43:48] (34 seconds)
Sometimes we don't know. We really clearly know our anxiety, and we clearly know our life quake. But what God wants us to know is that God's got this. That God is with you in this. He will get you through this. He's got this. He loves you. He loves you. He loves you. He's got this. [00:46:39] (30 seconds)
We all have stuff that we need you to help us with. Sometimes it's just simply the challenges we have how to navigate Christmas dinner and just wisdom on what to say and what not to say and, would you grant us that? Sometimes we need strength. We just don't have the strength to be decided. are people. We know how weak we are and those places give us strength. [00:49:40] (37 seconds)
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