Scroll through your social media feed and you’ll notice people pulling out Christmas decorations way earlier than they normally would.

If you’re someone who has been hanging up stockings while the smell of summer BBQs still lingers in the air, then I say, more power to you, friend. It’s been quite the year. And if you want to beat the blues with some red and green a few weeks (or several months) early, then … Amen.

But even as I consider just how soul-sappingly weary we feel of this pandemic and the restrictions and the uncertainty we find ourselves wrapped in, I think about when the Christ Child first came.

The Bible says that “when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son.” (Galatians 4:4)

And when was that right time?

Was it a time when people welcomed him? Nope. In fact, the Bible says, He came to His own and His own did not receive Him.

Was it a time when the political climate was perfect? Nope. In fact, He was born as a Jew just when the Jews had come under the dominion of a foreign power.

Was it a time when it was convenient for an unwed Middle Eastern girl to be carrying a child? Nope. He was born at a time when his mother would have faced severe social ostracization.

Was it a time when as a people we were right with God? Nope. In fact, the Bible says that we were enemies of God, dead in our sin, darkened in our understanding.

And yet Christ chose to step into that chaos and confusion, into the brokenness and darkness.

We live today in a world where anything is but right. The air is thick with the muck of the last year whether it be ugly politics, violence, disease, and destruction.

But Christ still comes into this weary world.

And the weary world can still rejoice. For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

He brings hope to our hopelessness, healing to our hurts and wholeness to our hearts.

This Advent, let’s welcome Hope into our weary world. This Advent, let’s invite Light into our dark world. This Advent, let’s clear the clutter for Christ. Join me in my 25-day Bible Plan, “Making Space” on the YouVersion Bible App.

From December 1^st all the way to Christmas Day, let’s make it our intention to focus on the hope, joy and peace that Jesus brings into this weary world. My prayer for us is that this season won’t just pass us by in a blur. But that even through the chaos, we would find our contentment in Christ.

I invite you to join me in Making Space for Jesus this Advent season. If you prefer to download the devotional on your phone or laptop instead of accessing an app, here’s the link to that: DOWNLOAD Making Space – An Advent Devotional

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