Do You Hear What I Hear? - Advent Devotional Day 10

Scripture
"8 Let me hear what the LORD God says, because he speaks peace to his people and to his faithful ones. Don't let them return to foolish ways.
9 God's salvation is very close to those who honor him so that his glory can live in our land.
10 Faithful love and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed.
11 Truth springs up from the ground; righteousness gazes down from heaven.
12 Yes, the LORD gives what is good, and our land yields its produce.
13 Righteousness walks before God, making a road for his steps." - Psalms 85:8-13

Reflection
If your life had a soundtrack, what would it be? If you’re like me, the answer might vary quite a bit from day to day, depending on the circumstances. But in general, the soundtrack of my life is probably best described as…eclectic, ranging from Miss Rachel and Pancake Robot all the way to Metallica, Robert Glasper, Go West, and BLACKPINK. Given the fact that my entire family of six has access to my music streaming account, I’m not sure the algorithm really knows what to do with me at this point. Beyond the music, a typical day full of doing my best to be at least an adequate parent, husband, and pastor while negotiating the unrelenting background noise of constant kid-chaos, ministry demands, and just getting dinner on the table each night leaves little additional space for my own thoughts, let-alone meaningful conversation with other adults, or with even with the Lord. And that’s not even accounting for the constant Christmas music blaring basically everywhere I go this time of year. Do you hear what I hear?

Sometimes it feels impossible to find a moment of peace with the soundtrack of life always swirling around… especially in the leadup to Christmas. Until we take a moment to listen, and I mean really listen. Because underneath all of it, God is speaking peace into the cacophony. No, God doesn’t promise to remove the craziness, but instead God’s peace can yet be found within it, if we are willing to listen. And what if that is the whole point? What if God speaks peace to his people (us) in small ways for the very reason that it requires us to go looking? As we begin to go looking and listening with intention and purpose, both inward and outward, we just might discover this Advent season that the place where faithful love and truth meet, where righteousness and peace have kissed, where truth springs from the ground and righteousness gazes down from heaven, is right here in the middle of all of our messiness, close to those who honor him.

Finding and hearing the voice of God that is speaking peace into the noisiness of our lives this season begins with the desire and the willingness to faithfully listen, more deeply, more closely, more consistently, and more intentionally than ever before. And in so doing we may discover God anew, finding peace in places we never thought possible. For Jesus is the Prince of peace after all, and he’s asking you today: “Do you hear what I hear?”

Take a few minutes to breathe and to listen for God. How is God speaking peace to you today?

Prayer
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit give us ears to hear, and give us eyes to see all that you have prepared for us in the days and weeks ahead this Advent season. May we be attentive to your voice and presence in the midst of all the noise and chaos that can become pervasive this time of year, and may we be relentless in daily seeking and embracing the peace that only you can bring into our hearts, our actions, and our surroundings in the midst of it all. Amen.