As we step into the beautiful season of Advent, I’m reminded of why this time of year has always been one of my favorites. Before the rush of Christmas lists, travel plans, crowded calendars, and blinking lights, Advent invites us to pause — just for a moment — and breathe in the quiet anticipation of hope.
The word Advent means “arrival.” Each of the four weeks leading up to Christmas focuses on one of the gifts Jesus brought into the world when He arrived: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. And this first week begins with Hope — a hope that doesn’t depend on circumstances, timing, or everything in life lining up perfectly. It’s a hope rooted in God showing up, even when the situation feels impossible.
We see it so clearly in Mary’s story (Luke 1:26–38), when God breaks into the ordinary life of a young girl in Nazareth and asks her to believe in something that defied logic and reason. Her response wasn’t certainty or a detailed plan — it was simply:
“I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”
Mary chose hope — not because she could see how everything would unfold, but because she trusted the One who promised.
That’s the heartbeat of Advent.
Not hope for perfect circumstances, but hope in a perfect God who steps into the middle of our everyday lives.
So as we light the first candle — the Candle of Hope — I’m asking myself, and inviting you to ask with me:
✨ Where am I placing my hope right now?
✨ Do I want God’s plan, or just my preferred outcome?
✨ Am I willing to say yes, even when I can’t yet see the path ahead?
Just like the light that grows brighter each week, may we feel our hearts grow more expectant, more willing, and more open to the ways God is already working — often quietly, often slowly, but always faithfully.
If you’d like, here’s a simple prayer to carry through this first week of Advent:
“Lord, help me shift my hope from circumstances to You. I trust that You will meet me right where I am, and that Your plans are good. Come, Lord Jesus.”
What is one thing you are hoping for this Advent season — and how can I pray for you?
From my family to yours, I wish you a season filled with peace, warmth, and the sacred joy of knowing that God is near. May the hope of Christ light your path in a special way this Christmas.
With love, loyalty, and a little Irish magic 💚
Lisa
