Inquisitive Adventures

An Advent Reflection

We find ourselves on the final Sunday of Advent and the last weekend before Christmas as we prepare for this holiday week.  I’m sitting with a warm cup of coffee, allowing myself a slow morning before the busyness begins. Outside, the snow has melted away, and the cold has returned, bringing wind with it. 

Today’s candle represents Love. 

This time of year, it is very natural to get caught up in our circumstances, whether it’s busyness, difficulty, or expectations. We can forget to slow down and focus on Jesus and our relationship with Him. We may become distracted by all of the stress with the Holidays or our life circumstances before we know it. Jesus feels distant. But He is a God that longs to draw near to us. 

Advent allows us to reorient our focus back to Him—to pay attention to our heart posture, to be present, and to refuse to simply move through the motions on autopilot.

One of the clearest pictures of Love drawing near is found in Gabriel’s visit to Mary. The story in Luke 1:26–38 shows us what it looks like when God steps into an ordinary life. In this passage, we see how God chooses the humble, speaks into uncertainty, and unfolds his redemption with a quiet yes. 

We see God choose a young, ordinary girl in a small town, and from that moment, everything changes. In the same way, God steps into our own stories—healing what is hurting, transforming what is tired, and uprooting what no longer serves His purposes of love.

God even meets us in the midst of fear and uncertainty in our lives. In this passage, Gabriel tells Mary, “Do not be afraid.” His immediate response to Mary is to bring peace and calm. God doesn’t wait for us to be brave—He enters our circumstances, sits with us, and gently meets us in the unknown, whispering for us to be still. We can rest in Him.

When we choose to draw near to Him, we find rest in His presence. 

God is always waiting patiently for us. If we choose, we can draw near to Him and rest in his presence. Below are some ways we can draw near to God. 

Here are a few gentle ways to draw near to God this week:

Ways to Draw Near to God

• Scripture
• Quiet moments
• Prayer
• Peace in the ordinary
• People He places in our lives
• Gentle reminders of His presence

As you light the fourth candle of Advent today, sit quietly before the Lord. Ask yourself:

Where has Love drawn near in my life this year?

Where do I need Love to draw near again?

Say a prayer and rest in His love.

As we prepare for Thursday, let’s slow down and draw near to the One who draws near to us. Love comes close and waits patiently for us to turn toward Him. This final week of Advent invites us to look for evidence of God’s love woven throughout our lives.

May you feel Love drawing near — in your home, in your heart, and in the quiet places where God still chooses to dwell.

Scriptures to Carry With You This Week

Isaiah 7:10–16
Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19
Romans 1:1–7
Luke 1:26–38
Matthew 1:18–25