One thing that I respect about the ancient Hebrew prophets is their unwavering honesty.  Many times, God addressed the people about their sin, but sometimes God heard the people’s cries and needs.  At first, one might think that this type of bantering between humanity and God is not right and is even considered blasphemous.  Isaiah challenges God in the lament found in Isaiah 63-64.  In speaking with God, Isaiah says, “Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity forever.  Now consider, we are all your people” (Isa. 64:9 NRSV).

I say thank you to Isaiah.  I have felt this way on many occasions. Asking myself, “What have I done, God?  Why don’t you answer my prayers?” It can make us feel vulnerable. Remember, God’s forgiveness and understanding can bring comfort and trust in those moments.

The ancient Hebrews knew the feeling of hopelessness very well.  They understood what it was like to lose homes, family members, health, etc.  Their plight was not so different than ours.  We often feel lost and misunderstood by our creator.  We feel as if we have nowhere else to turn.  Our hope has left us.  Our God is gone.

This season of Advent reminds us not to give up hope.  God is still present in the middle of the struggle.  Just as Isaiah petitioned God with honest lament, we can do the same thing.  We rediscover that, in this season of introspection, we look within ourselves and engage in sincere dialogue with God.  We are allowed to hold God accountable for His silence, knowing that such honesty can bring us closer to His presence.

God is big enough to handle our sorrows.  As a matter of fact, God is so great that he turns our sorrows into joys.  King David reminded us that “You (God) have turned my mourning into dancing; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever” (Psalm 30:11-12 NRSV).  Moving past the gloom and despair of chaos into the creation of joy is the spirit of Advent.  We celebrate the expectation of the miracle which set the world on its ear.  God broke Divine silence and entered this world as a baby.  This incredible event, while at first delivered in a very obscure and remote way, would grow to be the center of our hope.

Our redemption started with the cries of a baby.  The cries went unnoticed.  This miracle of light broke through the darkness in our souls, restoring us to wholeness.  This season is about moving from darkness to light.  We remember who we used to be and give thanks that we are no longer that person.  We have experienced change, and with God’s blessings, we will never be the same.

As we begin our season of Advent, let us remember to lay all our cards on the table with God. Being honest about what keeps us from fully worshiping can foster feelings of safety and acceptance, knowing that God can handle our truth.