Advent 2023

So much was familiar for Mary, a young teen. The place she lived; her normal routines; the age old customs; her friends, her fiancee; her family; her future seemed predictable.

“O, Joseph, Joseph! She
had known there would be prayers. And when the time
Of waiting ended, and procession formed
To lead her to his house, she’d have no fears.” ***
(italics mine)

Then God broke in.

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph,
of the house of David.
And the virgin’s name was Mary.”
Luke 1:26, 27

And everything changed.

Life changed for Mary. Life had changed for her cousin Elizabeth. Life changed for Zechariah, Elizabeth’s husband. (Luke 1:5-25). Life changed for Joseph. (Matthew 1:18-25).

Life changed for Ruth as well over 1000 years earlier. Ruth, from Moab, became the daughter-in-law of Naomi when she married Mahlon. When Naomi, now a widow, decides to return to her home country of Bethlehem, she encourages Ruth and her other daughter-in-law to stay in Moab, their home country.

But God broke in.

Ruth stays committed to her widowed mother-in-law.
“… where you go I will go …”
Ruth 1:16

The narrative of Ruth and the narrative of Mary both exemplify hesed, God’s steadfast love.
The narrative of Ruth and the narrative of Mary both exemplify God’s sovereignty.
The narrative of Ruth and the narrative of Mary both exemplify God’s unchanging character.

I think on my story. Many times God has broken in. My familiar was challenged. I was forced to consider, will I trust God with the unexpected? Will I trust His steadfast love?
Will I trust His sovereignty? Will I trust His unchanging character? And what does trust look like for me this Advent season?

What about you. What does trust look like for you this Advent?

“Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8

Copyright: Sue Tell, November 2023

*** A Woman Wrapped in Silence, John W. Lynch, 1941.