Advent For Those Grieving | No. 16
ADVENT DAY SIXTEEN
1 “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.3 Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:1-3
LET US PRESS ON TO KNOW THE LORD
Amidst sorrow and loss and brokenness it is difficult to see God for who He is, as faithful, as healer, as redeemer. The call here is to "return" to Him that He may bring healing, that He may pick us up, that He might fix what has been broken. To trust Him with our sorrow. To run to Him in the pain. To stop demanding that this world fix that which only He can.
And right in the middle of these verses is this beautiful hope-filled reminder that God alone brings life where we there is only death: "He will revive us" and "He will raise us up." This reference certainly points us to Jesus and His dying in order to bring us life, to revive us and raise us up. "Because I live, you also will live." John 14:19
Because of this truth, because Jesus died and offers us life, because He is as sure as the sun, because He is faithful, God says "press on to know me," follow after me earnestly, pursue me, know my heart that you might trust me and be reminded that I am a good Father who can and will bring you life.
THE PROMISE
He is faithful. As sure as the sun will come up every day, even when it's cloudy and we can't see it, He will come. We can trust Him and His faithfulness, even when we cannot feel Him or see Him working. He will bring rescue and restoration and healing. He will bring life from death.
PRAYER
Father, thank you for the life that offer even amidst death and sorrow and loss. Would you help my heart trust that you are good and that you are faithful? Remind me today that as sure as the sun will rise, you will bring restoration and healing.
