Prepare the Way: Repentance, Dependence, and Peace

In this second week of Advent, I invited us to ask a simple but searching question: Do you expect to experience the peace of God this Christmas, and how are you preparing for it? John the Baptist stands in the wilderness and announces, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” That call tells me that expectation requires preparation. Not the kind that strings lights on a troubled soul, but the kind that turns—decisively—from self-rule to God’s reign, from managing sin to naming it, from gripping control to an honest dependence on the One who provides.

Isaiah’s line, as punctuated in the ancient Masoretic tradition, reads: “In the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord.” That shift matters. We usually want to wait until we’re out of the desert—out of confusion, shame, scarcity—before we prepare. But God meets us there. Scripture teaches the desert is a place of transformation. You don’t leave it the same. John’s clothing and diet weren’t signs of madness but of poverty and dependence. He had learned peace where most expect only survival. That’s a clue for us: peace grows where dependence deepens.

Repentance is more than feeling sorry. It’s a U-turn in thought, desire, and direction. It’s refusing to whitewash our lives while leaving the inside untouched. Confession becomes the practice that makes repentance concrete. When we name our sins—aloud to God and appropriately to one another—what felt “manageable” is unmasked, and its weight begins to lift. The desert may not change overnight, but we can walk farther with a lighter pack. Casting our cares on the Lord is not a slogan; it is a spiritual act that trades anxiety for trust, self-rescue for God’s provision.

So I called us to prepare for peace by repenting, confessing, and depending. Let go of grudges, self-righteousness, and the subtle belief that you can save yourself with a better list or a busier church calendar. The kingdom has drawn near in Jesus. If today is your wilderness, prepare a straight path right there. Confess. Turn. Depend. And if this is your moment to be baptized, the water is ready. The God who comes close will meet you, sustain you, and teach you peace.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Expectation requires intentional preparation True spiritual expectation isn’t passive; it’s participatory. Advent invites tangible practices—repentance, prayer, confession, reconciliation—that carve a straight path for the Lord in real life. Without preparation, we expect peace while clutching the very things that keep us restless. Prepare the heart you hope God will fill. [51:08]
• 2. Repentance is a decisive reorientation Repentance isn’t just sorrow; it’s a U-turn in thoughts, motives, and habits. It refuses cosmetic religion—whitewashed outsides with unaddressed insides—and seeks real change. This turn makes room for God’s reign to touch what we protect, hide, or excuse. Peace often appears on the road we were unwilling to take. [53:44]
• 3. Peace grows from surrendered dependence John’s wilderness life was not heroic minimalism but holy reliance. Our anxiety swells with every attempt to secure ourselves; dependence trains our hearts to receive what God actually provides. Surrender is not passivity—it’s the honest posture of a creature before a faithful Creator. In that posture, peace takes root. [62:47]
• 4. Prepare the way in deserts God comes to us where we feel least ready—confused, ashamed, or threadbare. The wilderness is not a delay; it is a classroom of transformation. Preparing there means clearing the clutter of fear and control so grace can find you in honest places. Peace does not wait for perfect conditions. [56:43]
• 5. Confession lightens the soul’s load Sin always promises manageability and ends in weight. Naming it aloud loosens its grip and teaches our mouths the truth our hearts avoid. Confession is how we hand to God what we cannot carry or fix. You may still be in the desert, but you will walk lighter and farther. [68:05]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:40] - Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:1-6
• [03:30] - Advent Question: Expecting Peace
• [47:38] - John’s Startling Announcement
• [49:24] - A Story About Preparation
• [51:08] - Expectation Requires Preparation
• [53:44] - Repentance Is More Than Regret
• [56:43] - In The Wilderness, Prepare
• [59:30] - Desert As Place Of Transformation
• [60:53] - John’s Dependence And Peace
• [62:47] - Letting God Relieve Our Anxiety
• [66:05] - Casting Cares, Dropping Burdens
• [68:05] - Confession That Lightens The Soul
• [70:49] - Call To Repent, Forgive, Be Baptized
• [72:50] - Closing Prayer And Sending

1. In Matthew 3:1-6, where is John located, what does he proclaim, and how do the people respond?
2. The wording highlighted from Isaiah places the command to prepare in a specific location. What location is emphasized, and why is that surprising? [56:43]
3. What do John’s clothing and diet tell you about his way of life, and what might they signal about his posture before God? [01:00:53]
4. What did the crowds do when they came to the Jordan, and how is that different from private regret? [01:06:05]

1. If repentance is more than sorrow and is a U-turn in thought, desire, and direction, what does that suggest God is after in a person’s life? [53:44]
2. Why would God call people to prepare the way “in the wilderness” rather than after life feels stable and presentable? What does that teach about how peace comes? [56:43]
3. How does surrendered dependence challenge the instinct to secure oneself, and why might peace grow in that posture? [01:02:47]
4. Why does naming sin aloud in confession begin to loosen its weight? What might be happening to the heart and to trust in community when that happens? [01:08:05]

1. Where is your wilderness right now (confusion, shame, scarcity)? What would it look like to “prepare a straight path right there” this week—one clear action you will take? [56:43]
2. Name one area where a U-turn is needed—in thoughts, motives, or habits. What exact turn will you make in the next 48 hours, and who will you tell for accountability? [53:44]
3. What burden, sin, or secret have you been telling yourself is “manageable”? When and how will you confess it—out loud to God and appropriately to a trusted person—so you can walk lighter? [01:08:05]
4. When anxiety spikes this week, how will you practice dependence instead of control (for example, pausing to pray before sending the email, delaying a purchase, asking for help)? [01:02:47]
5. Is there a grudge, a self-righteous stance, or a condemning posture you need to release before Christmas? What step of reconciliation or forgiveness will you attempt, even if the desert doesn’t change right away? [01:10:49]
6. If you sense a nudge toward baptism or a renewed public confession of faith, what is keeping you from saying yes? What questions do you need answered, and who will you ask? [01:10:49]
7. Advent expectation requires preparation. Which one daily practice will you adopt through Christmas—confession, a short prayer of surrender, reconciling one relationship—and when in your day will it happen? [51:08]