The Daily: Sunday December 7, 2025

When Zechariah saw them, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard.
Luke 1:12-13

God Meets Us in the Trembling

Advent teaches us a profound truth: we don't have to wait until we're stronger, braver, or more faithful for God to meet us. God shows up right in the trembling, right in the middle of our uncertainty and fear. When we name our fears and longings out loud, something powerful happens - naming breaks their power to isolate us. There's something about speaking our truth that shifts everything. Suddenly we're not alone with our worries. God hears. Community holds. Light grows when we share it instead of hiding it. The very act of naming what we're afraid of or hoping for becomes a form of prayer, an invitation for God to break into our story. This is the good news of Advent: fear is real and God is near. We don't have to choose between acknowledging our anxiety and trusting in God's presence. Both can be true simultaneously. As we begin this season, we're invited to bring our whole, honest selves - trembling and all - before the One who hears us. The secret might be that the world is always in the time of Herod, and God is always breaking in.

Reflection Question
What would it look like for you to bring your 'trembling' - your fears, doubts, or uncertainties - honestly before God this Advent season?

Prayer
God, thank you that you don't wait for me to have it all together before you meet me. Help me to trust that you are near, especially in my trembling moments. Give me courage to name my fears and hopes, knowing that you hear and hold them all. Amen.