Fourth Wednesday of Advent
Scripture Reading for Today:
Getting Comfortable with Uncomfortability
by Sonia Reid Noble
Growing up, I had all kinds of expectations about what my life would look like at certain ages and stages. I remember going to university to major in psychology and minor in music. As time went on in my studies, it became evident that my real love was music, and I graduated with a music major and a psychology minor. Not exactly what I had planned for. It drastically changed my career plans and took me on some very unexpected and unanticipated adventures. I wanted to be married and have kids by a certain age. Well… It did happen eventually, but not when I thought it would. This year has brought me many new questions and some uncertainty.
Life can be a mystery, and we may even feel like we won’t get to our desired outcome with all of the additional pit stops and delays. We see desires and dreams in the stories of both Hannah and Joseph. When we read through Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel chapter 1, we read about her desire to have children with her husband, Elkanah, and her struggle with infertility year after year. Joseph is busy taking care of his brothers and tending to the sheep. He shares his dreams with his family and is met with exasperation and even anger. The Bible notes that Joseph’s father wondered what meaning the dreams might have.
I have always seen Hannah and Joseph as the victors they are, but have I fully acknowledged the uncertainty they had to live with before arriving at their destiny? Hannah spent years worshipping God and praying for the blessing of children. She also spent years being ill-treated, taunted, feeling rejected, and crying before she saw the evidence of her answered prayer. Joseph was kidnapped, sold into slavery, betrayed, jailed, and even forgotten about, all of this before he saw the fruition of the dreams that God had given him.
Day after day, hoping and trusting God for the answer. Waking up wondering: will it be today? I have this dream, this desire, and this promise that I am holding onto, but when will it happen? Many days come with delays and heartbreak. My friend, God is working it all out for your good.
In this season of Advent, I am reminded that Mary and Joseph would have felt uncertainty as her pregnancy progressed. Perhaps the people in their lives thought there was a mystery to solve. Day after day, feeling this baby grow inside of her, she likely faced shame from her community, BUT she knew what the angel had spoken to her. The only way to get to the promise was to go through this uncertainty.
You are not alone; He is right there with you in the uncertainty, guiding you through His plan for you. Think of Hannah, daily enduring the taunts of Peninnah, asking God, “When will it be my turn?” She goes to the Tabernacle and vulnerably lays out the desires of her heart again before the Lord, but this time is different, and the priest says, “Go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.”
The Bible tells us she goes home, is soon pregnant, and gives birth to her son Samuel (and subsequently four more children). Her prayer in today’s text shows us that she sees how God uses the ups and downs of life to complete His purpose in us.
Joseph, too, had a very long journey before he saw the fulfillment of the dreams God had given him. The heartbreak of his brothers kidnapping and selling him is just the beginning. And with all the success he had in Potiphar’s kingdom, he had yet another downturn when a lie landed him in jail for years. He continued to serve while he waited, and one day God brought him back into a good relationship with Potiphar and freed him from his jail cell. Seasons of waiting in life can feel like waves tossing us around. The joys and the sorrows, the beautiful blessings and the difficulties.
I love these lyrics from Oceans by Hillsong United
“And I will call upon Your Name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine”
We can see that Hannah’s answered prayers and promises to God resulted in Samuel becoming a judge and a prophet who anointed the first king of Israel.
Joseph lived to see his dreams fulfilled and was used to help feed nations during years of famine. God’s promises are sure, my friend. Even though there may be a lot of unanswered questions right now. He is right there with you! Your destiny hasn’t been averted; your story is here to help others and accomplish all that God has designed for it to do. Your purpose is being fulfilled even in the uncertain times we face.
I think that Joseph summed it up well in Genesis 50:20: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Thank you for reading the New Leaf Advent Reader, a collection of reflections from writers across Canada. If you are enjoying the reader, sign up to receive the readings in your inbox each day here: SIGN UP
And please share this reflection with your friends and family who might also enjoy it.