Training the Heart in the School of Longing, Day 4

Expecting God means expecting upheaval. When God comes near, he shakes things. He exposes our wounds.

The Nature of Expectation and the Opening of Advent

All of us have lived in seasons of expectation. It is one of the most natural human instincts. Whether awaiting a baby, a job, or a move, expectation becomes a kind of human adrenaline. When hopes are fulfilled, we rejoice. When they fail, we move from expectation to disappointment. Humans live this pattern, and history lives it as well.

Advent means “coming,” and it is a season of longing. Our calendar begins with longing so we may learn to wait. If we began with the resurrection, we would be disoriented, just as the disciples were at the empty tomb. Advent places us at the start of the story with child-like hope. Children feel this longing intensely. They long for Christmas morning, the tearing of wrapping paper, the sounds of delight. Advent is a training camp in waiting. In Eden, humanity failed that training by seizing what was not yet theirs. But our human experience also craves the prize before its time.

Israel’s Longing and Isaiah’s Cry

Imagine waiting not just for weeks but for centuries. Imagine longing for Christmas through generations that never saw its fulfillment. This was the world of the first century. Israel’s expectations had grown into a deep ache. They cried out for a Savior. They asked why God delayed.