Advent

ISAIAH 55:6, 12 (Common English Bible)

Seek the lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. 

You will go out with celebration,

    and you will be brought back in peace.

Even the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you;

    all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 

The people of Israel were in exile.  Many had begun to wonder if God has forsaken them.  The prophet Isaiah speaks to them offering a new vision.  God will reverse their circumstances.  If they seek the Lord God can and will do amazing things.  They will leave their captivity in celebration and be brought back to Jerusalem in peace.  It is such an amazing promise that all creation celebrates, even the mountains and trees. 

This word spoken so long ago is still a word for us. When we feel abandoned, in exile and full of questions, we too need to seek the Lord.  When we do, we will begin to find peace. This is a peace that is not related to our current circumstances but comes from the knowledge that God is with us and wanting what is best for us.  This is the message of Advent.  God so loved us that God sent Jesus to be with us, to save us and to remind us we are loved. 

When we truly have the peace of God, we stop needing answers for everything. We stop having to worry about everything going on in the world, and we can simply trust in God and trust that God is in everything to come. When we seek God’s heart, we find peace, an inexplicable peace that will guide us through this life and all the trials we face.

When I find myself getting upset about my personal situation or what is going on in the world, these words remind me to stop, to quit focusing on what is out there and instead turn again more fully to God.  As I give each worry and concern to God I find that peace Isaiah promised.  

I don’t know if all creation is celebrating when I do this.  I don’t see any trees clapping their hands or the Smoky Mountains singing, but I do know God is rejoicing that I have again focused my life where it needs to be – on God my rock and my source of peace. 

Let us pray:

Loving God, when I feel like I am in exile, when I am full of doubt or fear, remind me to turn to you to find peace, a peace that passes all situations.  AMEN.

This episode was written by Bill Green and recorded by Amy Large.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.