Born Thy People to Deliver Day 26

BY Bailey T. Hurley

The latest trend I see all over social media is influencers telling followers: “exciting news is coming.” You are asked to tune in, subscribe, or follow along so you won’t miss the big life update. Guiltily, I can’t help but get invested in whatever the mysterious announcement may be—I have a deep anticipation for what is going on in the lives of others. 

But what about the anticipation for our own lives and the work God is doing? Like Israel, we have been told over and over again that God is good, His love endures forever, and He redeems us from the hands of our foes. But sometimes, the anticipation for this good news to be revealed can almost feel debilitating. When, God? How, God? 

Imagine Israel waiting centuries for their promised deliverance, “Some wandered in the desolate wilderness, finding no way to a city where they could live. They were hungry and thirsty; their spirits failed within them” (Psalm 107:4–5). There was a restlessness, a displacement, a hunger for home and for peace in their situation. They held onto hope for the God who rescued Israel before and would rescue Israel again…the anticipation was growing.

Then in another “big news is coming” moment, an angel appeared to a young girl named Mary and told her: “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus” (Luke 1:31). A baby is coming? A baby is coming to rescue us? How, God? 

We know Jesus delivered His people as promised. Yet, centuries later, we still experience that hunger for things to be made perfectly whole. We wait for victory over sin, sadness, illness, broken relationships, and unjust systems. So, we follow God by “subscribing” to our spiritual disciplines. We commune with Him, looking for clues to His work in our world. We see Him slowly revealing His plan to bring His kingdom here on earth through us—His Church. 

But in this waiting, may Jesus cradle our cares as Mary would her newborn son. With attentive love and compassion, Jesus bears the weight of our longing and is patient with our grieving. 

And may Jesus give us assured hope like a king who can survey the battlefield and know he is going to win. He has, is, and will deliver us for His glory. The when and how may still be unfolding, but we know Jesus has done it, and we celebrate this exciting news together during Advent.