Every winter, I write through Advent over on my Instagram page, short daily devotionals and prayers to help get us all through December. This year, I’ll also be sending the devotionals out as daily emails through Substack - I know everyone is not on Instagram, and sometimes it can be nicer to get an email if you’re trying to avoid social media during the holidays. If you’d like to follow on Instagram, I’m @LauraJeanTruman, but all the devotionals will be sent out here as well.
Praying for God to meet us this Advent, in the middle of all the difficulties, stresses, and gifts this season can bring.
Every winter, my mind and body shut down a bit. I’m not productive in the winter, and I’m kind of sad. I can’t force myself to be useful no matter how hard I try. Everyone says “well, winter is a time for REST!” but I never feel like I’m allowed to rest, because I could have done more in the bright months. So I push through winter, even though my body and mind aren’t at their best so I don’t get much done anyway. Then when spring lands, I’m tired and discouraged, because I spent winter trying to make up for the perceived failures of fall.
It’s hard to unlearn the lie that we need to earn our rest.
It’s hard to believe that rest is primary, not a reward for work.
In a lot of cultures, including pagan and Jewish time-telling, the new day starts at sunset, not sunrise. The first thing in a day is rest. Before we’ve accomplished a single thing, we sleep.
Tomorrow Advent starts, the first day of the Christian liturgical year. In the darkest month, while the earth rests, God says - see, I am doing a new thing!
Our God begins new things not despite the darkness of a resting earth - but in it, through it, because of it.
Rest comes before everything else. Before we work, we rest. Before we earn it, we rest.
If our summer wasn’t productive, we are invited into rest.
If our fall felt chaotic and incomplete, we are invited into rest.
If we think we haven’t earned it, we are invited into rest.
Rest is grace, and Grace is the whole reason God broke into time at Christmas. Before we fixed or tidied or finished a single thing, a single holy action, a single piece of justice, Grace sang over us - here, as you are, you are Beloved.
Rest is a physical reminder of that Grace. Our Belovedness came before we earned it. Our rest does, too.
Gracious God, some of us are already in the chaos and performing and anxiety of this Christmas season. Resting feels impossible, or irresponsible. Please lead us beside still waters. Whatever we’ve done or left undone, draw us gently into rest. Amen.
Advent begins tomorrow!
This may be silly, but where do you get the daily #AdventWords ? Do you come up with them or are they universally known or...?