As we enter the Advent season, we invite you to hold the tension between gratitude and lament—a rhythm of the heart that deepens our anticipation of Christ’s arrival. This dual practice, from our Shared Way of Life, shapes us to navigate the joys and sorrows of the holiday season with authenticity and hope.
Advent is a season of waiting and longing, mirroring the deep groaning of creation for renewal. This posture of waiting invites us to embrace lament. Lament is not despair; it is an honest acknowledgment of pain, loss, or injustice, and a hopeful cry to God for redemption. It creates space for the weary and the wounded, offering permission to grieve unmet expectations, broken relationships, or systemic injustices. It is a holy act of naming our collective and personal need for a Savior, echoing the psalmist’s cry: “How long, O Lord?”
Yet, lament is not the end. It walks hand-in-hand with gratitude, a practice that reorients our hearts toward the goodness of God in the midst of hardship. Gratitude shifts our focus from scarcity to abundance, reminding us of the small glimpses of grace and beauty that break through the cracks of our broken world. It cultivates a spirit of thanksgiving even in the waiting, celebrating the faithfulness of God who promises to make all things new.
In this Advent season, how might you make space for both gratitude and lament?
Here are a few suggestions inspired by our rhythms and practices:
Create a Lament and Gratitude Journal
Set aside time each evening to reflect on your day. Write down one area of sorrow or longing, and alongside it, one moment of joy or grace. Allow these reflections to be a conversation with God—your heart laid bare in both its aches and its awe.
Engage in Communal Prayer and Storytelling
Gather with others to share both your joys and your griefs. In our microchurches, we model spaces of authentic connection where people can bring their full selves. This Advent, let the sharing of your story become an act of sacred vulnerability, fostering deeper relationships.
Practice Gratitude Through Action
Celebrate the season by serving others. Gratitude flows when we recognize that all we have is a gift, and it multiplies when we share with others. Whether it’s a warm meal for a neighbor, a small gesture of kindness to a stranger, or volunteering with one of our Community Impact Partners, these acts of generosity make tangible God’s love in the world.
Write Your Own Psalm of Lament and Hope
Follow the biblical pattern of lament by expressing your pain, remembering God’s past faithfulness, and concluding with hope in God’s promises. This spiritual exercise can transform despair into trust and sorrow into worship. CLICK HERE for our guide to this practice.
Advent reminds us that God steps into the messiness of life—into both our gratitude and our lament. Jesus, Emmanuel, is God with us, holding space for both our joy and our pain. This season, may you find room to rejoice in God’s goodness while faithfully mourning the world’s brokenness. As we wait for the coming of Christ, let us remember: lament teaches us to long for restoration, and gratitude reminds us that God’s kingdom is already breaking through.
Let’s journey together, allowing both gratitude and lament to shape our hearts as we prepare to celebrate the hope of Christ’s arrival.
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