Today’s Scriptures: Psalm 42; Isaiah 29:17–24; Acts 5:12–16
Love Longs and Love Restores
Psalm 42 does not give us a calm picture of serenity in nature. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” This is not about peaceful scenery. It is the cry of someone gasping, desperate for what only God can provide.
Advent is the season for people who can no longer pretend they are fine the way they are. It is the season for people who ache for God to break in, to heal what is broken, and to bring hope where there is none.
Isaiah gives us a glimpse of what that healing looks like. The deaf hear. The blind see. The poor rejoice. God’s love opens a reality unlike anything we have ever experienced.
In Acts, we see that love is on the move. Crowds gather. Bodies are healed. Shattered lives are restored.
That is the love I need. Maybe you need it too. Advent reminds us that longing is not something to suppress or ignore. It is often that very restlessness that keeps us turning back to God. And when we do, we discover His love does not leave us empty. He meets us in the dry and desolate places and restores what only He can.
The invitation is simple: let your longing lead you toward God, not away from Him.
For Prayerful Consideration:
- Where in your life do you feel the deepest sense of longing or restlessness right now?
- How might you bring that longing honestly to God this Advent instead of trying to fill it elsewhere?
Prayer
Lord, meet me in my longing. Restore the places in me that are dry and thirsty, and let my ache lead me closer to You.