My heart is full tonight. And also heavy. I’m slowly learning that to be a Christian is to live in the midst of such a beautifully difficult tension.

As big sister read tonight’s Advent Bible story to little sister under the twinkling lights of our tree, I sat here listening and pondering Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac - his dear, long-awaited, only son - in obedience to God, and God’s gracious provision in light of his faith, and the symbolism of Jesus in it all. Once again, I was reminded that faith, expressed in loving obedience, is what the Lord requires of us - very similar to a message I heard just an hour earlier at our church missions banquet... and another message I heard earlier at church this morning... both very different but relating back to the importance of our faith and obedience in response to God’s commands, for the goal of making His glory known.

That the God of all nations so humbly came to our fallen, sinful world - as Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us - in order to fulfill His plan to rescue us and to display His glory to the ends of the earth... and that He invites us to join in His work... is staggering, mind blowing. He loves us enough to rescue us from our sinful selves and to not only give us eternal life but also to fill us with joy and peace like we’ve never known as we trust and obey.

So, my heart is full as I rejoice that, in this broken world, I have great hope because of Christ. It’s also full because of my church family who truly “gets” what it means to boldly walk out faith in gospel-filled service to others, throughout our community and to the ends of the earth, and to spur one another on in these good works through Bible study and authentic community. And full because I’ve got a front row seat to witness the sanctifying work of Jesus in my own life, in our family, in so many fellow believers around us - as the Spirit fulfills His promise to makes us more and more like Him.

And my heart is heavy as I consider those who have not heard, or perhaps have heard but have not yet believed, this life-saving, life-changing Good News of Jesus. My heart is also heavy because in sharp contrast to this picture of my daughters cuddled under a blanket reading God’s Word in our language (and a beautifully written and illustrated children’s version of it) inside our warm, cozy home, millions of children and mothers around the world are sitting in a vastly different scene - scenes of desolate poverty, both physical and spiritual. And heavy for those around the globe for whom following Christ comes with the great cost of losing everything, even their own families or lives. And heavy for my own sin, for my desire of the things of this world, and for my apathy for the lost.

As I sit in this tension, I pray that, like Abraham and like Mary, and so many other Bible characters who we have the privilege of reading about, that the Lord would grow in me, and in my children, this kind of extraordinary faith - faith that God’s ways are greater than our plans and far better than the American dream, faith that supersedes what others think, faith that results in action and comes at a sacrifice - to trust and obey no matter the cost.

This is the beauty of Advent, to once again remind us that God’s glory is worth our lives, our all. In Galatians 5:6, the Bible tells us, “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” May we be known by our love for God and our love for people, as we live to share His Good News both here and around the world.

Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours, and lead me on to continually step forward in faithful obedience to Your commands to make Your great name known. “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

Oh, for grace to trust Him more. ❤️