I can see it just ahead

Advent is much more than looking forward to December 25th, the day we celebrate Christ’s birth. It is about realizing the hope of glory bestowed upon us in Jesus.

When the angel announced to Mary that she was highly favored and that the Lord is with you. It greatly troubled her because her life looked nothing like “highly favored.”

Going from “greatly troubled” to “highly favored” is what Advent is about. We do it by taking the words of Mary for our own:

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Luke 1:38

The promise of God for us is “Christ in me the hope of glory,” (Colossians 1:27). A hope that grows each day carrying us through sorrow, and troubles, and onto a glorious Christmas forever in Christ.

So we hesitantly count ourselves as highly favored and whisper with Mary—may it be as You have said…I think I am pregnant.