December 6
DECEMBER 6
READ:
Isaiah 40:1–5
DEVOTION:
Christmas tends to magnify whatever is already going on in our hearts. For some people, this season feels light and full. You love the songs, the traditions, the gatherings. For others, it feels complicated. Maybe we’re experiencing grief over the loss of a loved one, work stress, loneliness, family stuff, anxiety about money, or just feeling worn out. A lot of us are somewhere in the middle, grateful for good things, but still carrying a weight we do not talk about much. Into a mix like that, God says, “Comfort, comfort my people.”
God is not guessing what we need, and He is not giving generic encouragement. He is speaking to real people in real pain. Israel had been through exile, the kind of season that makes you wonder if life will ever feel normal again. God’s first word to them is not “try harder,” it is comfort. He comes close enough to tell the truth about what they have been through, and to promise that He is still with them.
Then He says, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” That is not a pressure to feel a certain way at Christmas. It is a call to make room for God to come into life as it really is. Isaiah paints a picture of God leveling mountains and lifting valleys. In plain terms, God shows up to deal with what feels too big, and to raise up what feels too low. He does not ignore the rough places, He works on them.
And here is where Advent gets practical for us. If you are in a hard season, this passage is for you. God is not embarrassed by your weakness. If you are not in a hard season, this passage is still for you, because God’s comfort is not meant to stop with us. Part of preparing the way is looking around and noticing who might need comfort right now. You do not have to share someone’s grief to be with them. You just need to be present. A phone call, a seat saved, a quiet check in, a meal dropped off, a normal conversation that says, “You matter, and you are not alone.” We do not fix people, we walk with them.
God is coming, that is the Advent promise. He comforts the hurting, and He uses His people to carry that comfort into each other’s lives.
REFLECT:
- Where do you need God’s comfort right now, or where do you need to make room for Him to work?
- Who in your world might be struggling this season, and what is one simple way you can show up for them?
PRAY:
Father, thank You for speaking comfort to Your people. Meet those who are hurting this season. Help me to trust Your coming in my own life, and help me to be a steady, kind presence for others. Use me to prepare the way for hope. Amen.