Lisa and I are friends with two couples who are expecting. One of which will welcome their new a little daughter into the world sometime in the next few weeks. While this is always an emotional time for the parents filled with excitement, anticipation, and also some jitters, there is an overarching sense of longing. Longing to hold that precious new baby, to look into her eyes, to fully immerse in the experience of unconditionally loving someone who is a part of you. 

And to not just have her enter your world, but to enter hers as well, to show her grace when she makes a mess, to have compassion for her (to enter into her suffering) when she is uncomfortable and keeping you up at night, and to protect and defend her no matter the cost.

This desire is God breathed, it is a reflection (albeit a dim one) of His love – His longing – for us. This longing was the motivation for God to become man, to enter into our world, and to lay His life down for us. Paying a price we were unable to pay on our own.

During this season of Advent, as we wait for the coming of Christmas – the celebration of the birth of Jesus Messiah, we are experiencing this expectancy afresh as we look forward to meeting these new little ones.

It makes us all the more grateful for a God who was willing to enter into our suffering, to show us the way to Him. How truly blessed we are that He longs for us! 

May you find yourself longing for Him in this season of Advent.

Tom

Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
How blessed are all those who long for Him.

Isaiah 30:18 (NASB)