The Daily: Monday December 1, 2025

Scripture

But I called your Name, O God,
from the depths of the pit.
You heard me call: “Don’t close your ears
when I cry for mercy!”
You came to me when I called.
“Fear not!” you said.
Lamentation 3:55-57

Sacred Emptiness

Advent doesn't begin with Christmas carols and twinkling lights. It begins in the quiet, sacred emptiness where our deepest longings live. This season invites us to sit honestly with our anxieties rather than rushing past them toward the manger. Like Zechariah in the temple, we're called to acknowledge the ache in our hearts - the unfulfilled dreams, the persistent worries, the questions that keep us awake at night.

There's something beautiful about starting here, in this honest place. We don't have to pretend everything is fine or manufacture joy we don't feel. God meets us exactly where we are, not where we think we should be. Your longings matter. Your fears are valid. Your questions are welcome. This sacred emptiness isn't a void to be quickly filled, but a holy space where transformation begins. It's where we learn that our hearts are big enough to hold both sorrow and hope, both fear and faith. As we enter this Advent season, we're invited to bring our whole, honest selves - not just the polished parts we think God wants to see.

Reflection Question
What longings or fears have you been trying to push aside as you approach this Christmas season, and how might God be inviting you to acknowledge them honestly instead?

Prayer
God, help me to sit in the sacred emptiness of this season without rushing to fill it with noise or activity. Give me courage to be honest about my longings and fears, trusting that you meet me exactly where I am. Amen.