Advent: Waves of Grace

In the beginning, all was right in the garden, and God walked with man.  

But then sin fractured that fellowship and fear entered in.

 “Adam, where are you?”

“I was afraid.”

Ever since, the ocean of God’s grace has been crashing against the shore of humanity. Wave after wave of His word, washing over a weary world, “Do not be afraid. I am with you.” 

To Abraham, “I will guide you,” and to Joseph, “I am for you.” 

To Joshua and to David, “I will fight for you,” and to Moses, “I AM.”

To kings and through prophets, to those in exile and those in Israel,

“Do not fear, do not fear, do not fear.”  

In time that tempest went still. For four hundred years His people waited for word. The silence from heaven was deafening as they waited for the tide to come in.

And then… the winds of heaven blew once again and the waters stirred.  

A whisper to Mary, “You have found favor with God.”

Rippling to Joseph, “She is with child.”

And swelling to the shepherds, “The savior is born!”  

The anthem resounding, “Do not be afraid.”  

To the disciples in the storm, “I am with you,” and then on mission, “I will go with you.”

To the women at the tomb, “He is risen,” and to all future generations, “He is coming.”  

So often as our feet are held to the flames, we pray for resolution, for answers, for an end to the suffering. God’s response and provision has always been about his presence.

The message of the Christmas story, rolling on through eternity, “Do not fear. God came near.” 

Jesus—Emmanuel.