Changed in the Waiting: Finding Joy in the Journey

Reading of the Word

Isaiah 12:1–6 NASB 2020

Then you will say on that day, “I will give thanks to You, Lord; For although You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, And You comfort me. “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.” Therefore you will joyously draw water From the springs of salvation. And on that day you will say, “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted.” Praise the Lord in song, for He has done glorious things; Let this be known throughout the earth. Rejoice and shout for joy, you inhabitant of Zion, For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Prayer of Illumination

Lord, as we listen to Your Word today, fill our hearts with joy and understanding. Illuminate our minds with Your truth and inspire us to live by Your light. Amen.

Introduction

Advent, for many of us, is a season that is often overlooked, especially in our consumer-driven world, where some stores put out Christmas merchandise as early as summertime!

In a light-hearted twist, a person shared a story of how their family’s Christmas tree was not decorated with traditional ornaments but instead filled with consumer receipts from prior years! They decided to document the 'presents' they spent money on but soon realized the empty feeling that followed each purchase. The joy of Christmas doesn't shine brighter from flashy items—it's found in hearts that reflect the love Christ brought into the world, reminding us of the true meaning of the season.

For most Christians, Christmas is easy. We get Christmas. Christmas is full of joy and excitement. We get excited for presents, good food, the company of close friends and family, and—if we’re lucky—a bit of time off work to relax and connect with loved ones. Many of us push toward Christmas as fast as we can. Advent, on the other hand, can make us uneasy and unsettled as we are encouraged to do the thing many of us hate most—wait.

Few have to work to find the joy in Christmas, but the Third Sunday of Advent calls us to experience joy in a new and different way. Joy, if we allow it, can be seen in the ways that God’s kingdom is not only one day promised but also already at work here and now. It is easy to be overcome by the weight of the world and the death and despair that are evident wherever we look, but this week of Advent invites us to experience the joy that God is working in and through the world, despite the work of the powers and principalities. God’s gift of joy is already at work—we just have to be willing to see it.

The Joy of Salvation

a. Our scripture today uses water imagery, something that is used often in the Old Testament.

A Commentary, Critical, Experimental, and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments, Vol. III: Job–Isaiah Chapter 12

an expressive image in a hot country. On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles the Jews used to bring water in a golden pitcher from the fountain of Siloam, and pour it, mingled with wine, on the sacrifice on the altar with great rejoicing.

b. For the people of Israel, water was crucial, and it was not always readily available or accessible.

A great example is when the Israelites wandered 40 years in the desert.

c. When rivers weren’t nearby, a well represented life and salvation.

John 4:14 CSB

But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life.”

d. The sacrament of baptism brings a spiritual event to life through the use of water.

This act serves as a testimony to the salvation we have embraced through our faith in Christ.

As we are submerged in the water, our old selves, along with our sins, past, and shame are buried with Christ.

Emerging from the water symbolizes our rebirth into a new life in Christ, celebrating our new identity in Him.

e. For Isaiah, God’s salvation is comparable to a well of water—it is a constant and reliable source, a gift to all who have it.

God giving us comfort through his salvation.

2 Corinthians 1:6 NASB 2020

But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;

Jesus speaking of living water

John 7:38 NASB 2020

The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ”

This living water soothes the parched soul. The dry and dead becomes lush and full of life. The source of this water will be unending.

The river of life

Revelation 22:1 NASB 2020

And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,

This river comes come from the throne of God to the throne of the believers heart.

This water quenches our thirst.

This spiritual water will continuously fill and satisfy the void in our hearts that only God can do.

The desires of the world will gradually give way to the desires of God.

The Joy of Uncertainty

a. Advent can feel like our waters are being unsettled.

Waiting makes us feel uncomfortable as we are drawn out of our normal, daily routine.

We crave answers, and the waiting period makes us anxious, often tempting us to stray from God.

b. Advent challenges our fast-paced lives. We live in a society that demands everything in rapid time—the faster, the better.

i. This reality often means we feel uneasy with the waiting that Advent requires.

Advent challenges us to slow down as we wait upon God.

During Advent, the world demands more of us than at any other time of the year, quickening the pace of life even further.

Advent challenges us to go against the current that wants us to skip the challenge of waiting during Advent

Consumerism is the biggest push of this agenda in society today.

It emphasizes the importance of choosing the perfect gift, spending to the point of going into major debt.

Everything is driven by the pursuit of money. In today's world, greed has become the primary goal for many retailers.

I have learned that as the years pass, material possessions become less important, and we grow more aware of the spiritual significance of this season.

We cannot gain spiritual significance from Christmas unless we observe Advent.

Christmas without Advent is like a celebration without anticipation—it’s a joy that arrives too quickly, without the sacred space to pause, reflect, and prepare.

Advent invites us to slow down, reflect on the promise of Christ’s coming, and experience a deeper, more meaningful joy that Christmas alone cannot fully offer.

Without Advent, Christmas risks becoming a hurried, materialistic event rather than a transformative season of hope, waiting, and spiritual renewal.

ii. This waiting can feel as though we are drowning, being overcome by unsettled waters.

The uncertainty that waiting brings about brings fear and doubt into our life.

The fear of the unknown while waiting often leads us to imagine the worst possible outcomes.

In a recent study, researchers found that when people faced a difficult decision, fear led them to focus only on negative outcomes. They actually made worse choices because they envisioned disaster instead of possibility. This reflects the storm on the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus’ disciples feared for their lives despite Christ sleeping in the boat (Mark 4:35-41). Fear distorted their faith and clouded their judgment. By placing our trust in God’s strength, we can see beyond our fears to the hope He provides.

iii. However, in the waiting there is an invitation to a deeper experience and understanding of the joy that God provides.

God encourages us to cultivate patience, even when faced with uncertainty.

God invites us to let go of doubt and instead embrace trusting him.

Trust in God's plan, even if it unfolds differently than we expect.

Have faith in God's guidance, especially as we patiently wait for His timing.

3. Even if we don't get the answer we hope for, trust that God still has our best interests at heart.

God can transform difficult situations into opportunities for our spiritual growth and for His glory.

c. We know we can experience joy in uncertain times because of verse 1 of today’s scripture, which starts, “In that day you will say . . .”

i. This wording indicates that day—our salvation—has not yet dawned.

ii. We are called to participate in making and experiencing joy, even in our waiting. We participate in the joy in anticipation of all that God will one day do.

Psalm 16:11 NASB 2020

You will make known to me the way of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

The Joy of a Present God

a. Sometimes it’s easier to imagine good things in our future than to see the good things in our present.

Great things are happening now, though the best is yet to come. We just need to focus on the present and recognize what God is doing in our lives today.a. God is on the move in the world today.

b. God’s kingdom is not confined to the future. God is present with us here and now, God is at work here and now, and God invites us to join that work here and now.

He has plans for us to accomplish today.

He will give us opportunity to reach others for him today.

c. The final words of this Isaiah passage remind us of God’s active presence among us right now.

God did not abandon Israel in their exile, and God has not abandoned us. God is in our midst!

Emmanuel “God with us”….yesterday, TODAY, forever.

Joshua 1:9 NASB 2020

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

To Sum It Up: Our joy is found in God alone, the source of our salvation. Even in uncertain times, He promises His comforting presence to help us, even as the world tries to overwhelm us.

Conclusion

In the same way that Isaiah’s words remind us that God has not abandoned us but is in our midst, we are reminded in the season of Advent that, while Christ has already come, Christ will also come again. We live in a reality where things are not as they should be, but we find joy in waiting for things to be made right and good and new. This joy is found when we can see God’s transforming work here and now.

As God’s people, we are not invited to sit in our waiting. Instead, we are invited to be part of God’s transforming work as we anticipate God’s kingdom breaking forth.

As we reflect on Isaiah’s imagery, let us open our hearts to the joy that flows from the wells of salvation that renew and sustain us on this journey of faith.

This Advent, let's move beyond the distractions of consumerism and typical Christmas celebrations. Embrace the discomfort of waiting and find joy in the present, trusting that God's salvation, purpose, and presence are already at work in our lives.

Prayer Following Message

Loving God,

We thank You for the joy that fills our hearts as we celebrate the presence of Jesus among us. Let His light guide our paths and His love inspire our actions as we leave this place.

Fill us with Your peace, and help us to share the joy of Christ with all we encounter, living as true reflections of His presence in the world.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.

Amen.

Benediction

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Go with us now into the world. We can begin again! Everything is about to change. So make everything new. Make us new. Reveal your glory in our lives and in the rhythms of our lives, so that nothing will get in the way of your coming. Amen.