Belated thoughts on Advent, waiting, and hope

Written By Rachel Wahba-Dunkley

Advent has become meaningful to me in the recent years. It’s a season rich with intention, waiting, preparation, anticipation. And yet, the broader holiday season can feel complicated. When the cultural expectation is constant festivity and joy, it can unintentionally deepen feelings of isolation for those who aren’t experiencing joy in obvious or traditional ways.

That is me pretty much each year around the holiday time. Thankfully I have a health toolkit in place, but it’s still tough.

And from conversations I’ve had recently, it’s clear I’m not the only one. Even as the holidays pass and a new year begins, some of those emotions linger. Transitions have a way of doing that.

But because God is so good, He spoke to me in two key ways during Advent last year. They were gentle reminders of His care and attentiveness.💜

We need Elizabeths

The first came during a sermon that my pastor preached that reflected on Luke 1, when Elizabeth and Mary meet. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, speaks encouragement and blessing over Mary. He mentioned that it was not just the miracle of their pregnancies, but also Elizabeth’s posture. There was no competition or comparison. Only joy, affirmation, and generosity of spirit.

The reminder was simple but so profound: He reminded us that we all need “Elizabeths” in our lives. People who can speak encouragement, who can recognize what God is doing and name it with kindness and clarity. Sometimes faith looks like allowing yourself to receive encouragement, not just offering it.

I had a moment of gratitude when I realized the Elizabeths in my life—friends, mentors, my husband, surprising kindness from a stranger. May this be an invitation to think about the Elizabeths in your life, and maybe reach out to them to share your gratitude.🤗

God with us

The second moment came through a quieter ritual. Each Sunday of Advent, my husband and I lit a candle on our Advent wreath. While reflecting on the theme of peace, we were reminded of what Advent truly signifies: a season of waiting, preparing, and anticipating—not rushing toward resolution, but staying present with hope.

For many of us, waiting has been shaped by disappointment or uncertainty. Did God hear me? Does God care? What’s taking Him so long?

The questions are many, so instead of pushing them down I encourage you to bring them to God. Ask Him why He’s taking so long or if He actually cares. This is a friendly reminder that following Christ isn’t cute, and God can handle our real thoughts, feelings, and questions.

Anticipation specifically can feel less like hope and more like bracing for what might go wrong. Advent gently reframes that posture because it invites us to prepare not for harm, but for God’s presence. To remember that according to God, waiting is never wasted.

At the heart of Advent is Emmanuel, God with us. Not distant. Not abstract. But present.

God comes.
Peace comes.
Joy comes.
Justice comes.
Goodness comes.

Even when faith feels small or quiet, it is still faith. And Advent reminds us that God meets us there…not at the height of certainty or celebration, but in the waiting itself.

Whether Advent was deeply festive for you or barely holding space for reflection, it offers an invitation: to seek God’s goodness, to remain open to His presence, and to trust that He is still at work, even when it’s hard to see and even when it’s messy. He was born in a manger, during times of injustice, to an unmarried woman in a part of town that no one considers extraordinary. So yea, God is good at messy and He still comes through.

Because Advent reminds us that
Emmanuel has come.
And He is indeed still with us.
Even when it’s messy.

May you be reminded of God’s presence during hard times, wrestle with Him honestly and fully, and receive His peace in the midst of chaos.✨

Need more support? Lemme help you sis:

Rachel Wahba-Dunkley
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Allowing yourself to be cared for & shepherded by God