During the season of Advent, when the world holds its breath as it waits for a miracle to restore order, we review ways to rise when we fall to the ground. Part of our cleaning work includes a fearless and moral inventory of how we stand when things knock us to our knees. Sometimes, life is unkind, and we find ourselves stuck in situations that defeat us. In our darkest moments, when all seems lost, how do we stand on two feet again? In other words, what moves us from hurting to healing?

     While we know that God’s strength lifts and heals us, it’s our faith that plays a crucial role in the process of healing. To say that God will supply us with what we need when we need it is to minimize the work we must do to receive Divine manna in the wilderness. An old saying goes, “God helps those who help themselves.” While God delivers abundant grace, it’s our faith that keeps us hopeful and optimistic in our journey.

     One significant lesson I learned in my life was about my aspiration to teach theology at the college level. I prayed to God for guidance and an open path to achieve my goal. However, I realized that simply praying and waiting was not enough. I needed to take action. I could have chosen to sit back and wait for something to happen, but instead, I prepared my cover letter and resume to send to colleges in my area. I understood that my prayer to God was a call to action, not a free pass.

     It’s important to note that our actions and efforts are not what save us. This belief is a misunderstanding of theology that treats God as a vending machine, where we insert a coin and receive our wishes. The Divine is not here to serve as our personal magician. Instead, the Divine is the author and creator of our journey, calling us into a full relationship. We must listen and respond to this call with our own actions.