“Despair is most often the offspring of ill-preparedness.” (American novelist and poet, Don Williams, Jr.)
As the season for preparing for the celebration of our Savior’s birth, Advent is a time of remembering how the world waited – and prepared – and despaired for the Savior to come. John’s testimony that “
He came unto His own, and His own received Him not” (Jn. 1:11) demonstrates just how
unprepared the world really was.
But what about Mary? Like any expectant mother today, the time between the conception and birth of her baby were probably the longest nine months of her life. No doubt there is much more preparation necessary today. There are new clothes to buy, the crib and nursery to set up, the car seat to install, books and toys to purchase, birthing and/or new parent classes to take… So it’s interesting to consider how Mary prepared herself.
The first thing she did was go on a personal retreat for three months where she would be mentored and ministered to by her relatives, Elizabeth and Zechariah, who themselves had miraculously conceived a baby who would be the forerunner to Mary’s own, the Messiah.
Certainly there must have been dozens of questions and times of deep anxiety. But slowly as Mary steadfastly trusted God, meditated on His promises, and saw God at work (there was the revelation to Joseph to convince him of the truth, for example) her heart was filled with ever-increasing joy, and trust, and confidence.
Advent is also a time of looking forward to Jesus’ second coming, of waiting – and preparing – and
never despairing. What the angels told the disciples on the Mount of Olives so long ago they say to us today:
This same Jesus will come back! As Christians, we’re
supposed to long for Christ’s return. And when the world’s injustice, pain, and senselessness bear down on us, we do so long for that day. God’s grace and patience in His “delay” are giving us time to prepare… to get our minds and hearts on track so that when He comes, there shall be nothing to regret.
The anxiety and the questions that accompany the months of pregnancy are forgotten when the new parents hold their long awaited child. They disappear as the parents first meet the person to whom they have already committed their heart and soul (and for the mother, her
body!). When the Lord comes again, the long-anticipated, prepared-for day will no longer be
someday, but
today. Like the newborn baby who even before his birth is known and loved though not yet seen, we will likewise finally see our Lord face to face.
Come, Lord Jesus, come! May we be found prepared, even if You come tonight!
"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy." (1 Peter 1:8, NIV)
Note: Portions of this blog post borrowed, adapted, and expanded from “Anticipation and Preparation” by Elizabeth Honeycutt, p. m36 in the Advent meditation, “Preparation” from the new “Mosaic Bible” (published by Tyndale; meditations © 2009, Credo Communications, LLC)
