There are 8 days total and one more Monday standing between us and Christmas—for some this brings nothing but excitement and joy, for others it brings more stress as their to-do list grows or brings sadness as this holiday is spent without a loved one or spent far away from their tribe. All of the Christmas hype that encompasses December and beyond can be extremely fun, but as I sit here in the twinkly light of my husband and I’s very first Christmas tree and try to process all of this for myself, I can’t help coming back to the truth of it all—that “Christmas cheer” has no foundation if not anchored in the hope of the Gospel. This is the type of joy we must cling to everyday, but especially those days when it seems easier to adore decorations or presents or business more than our Prince of Peace who has come. This is the truth that allows those who are stressed or mourning or sick or without gifts to celebrate the hope of our again coming King when cheer is not enough. O come let us adore Jesus instead of championing the season. 

The hope that we talk about during this advent season does not just stop with a divine baby in a manger, but leads to a cross on a hill, and one day a King coming back to take the world by storm and rescue His own children to spend forever with Him adoring His eternal glory. So if this is our goal—enjoying heaven with God forever—let us prepare ourselves for that by being in awe of Him now for all that He has done and will do. He deserves adoration from His children and how can we not worship and adore our God who laid down Himself to meet us in our world and save us from ourselves? 

Sometimes part of coming to adore our God is physical movement towards Jesus—see below the wisemen’s display of adoration for the King:

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it roseand have come to worship him.”…And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and ^tfrankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11

They sacrificed time and distance in order to lay at the feet of Jesus and worship. For us this may look more like sacrificing time that could be spent watching your fourth Hallmark Christmas movie of the day and driving the distance to church to adore Jesus with our family or it could mean removing ourselves from environments that make us want more stuff instead of contentment in the joy of Jesus. This is difficult for my husband and I as we are still in a season of newness and making our own Christmas traditions—we need say no to all that causes us to value things and traditions more or do not encourage us to adore Him most this week and every week. He is just always better—make choices that reflect that truth as I am challenged to do the same.

Along with movement as an action of adoring Him, sometimes adoring Him means also being patient to wait with hope of the future rather than be obsessed with our current struggles. Just as the people of the Old Testament had to wait patiently for the coming of Jesus, we too have to wait for His second coming. Awaiting this hope of heaven with worship and anticipation gives adoration to our King—we cannot wait to be with Him again! These verses in Isaiah look towards the coming King born in Bethlehem and foreshadow His second coming:

“The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil
…For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.”

Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7

These words were given to people who had seen great darkness and yet were challenged to look towards the coming Light—the Prince of Peace although they were in the midst of war, an Everlasting Father who would not die as other leaders before Him but would reign without end, the leader who would rule without corruption or greed and instead rule with justice and righteousness. If this holiday is filled with dread for you—cling to this sweet truth that it will not always be like this. There is hope coming that we can experience today because Jesus has come and is coming again—O come let us adore our King for what He has already provided us with and for the comfort that He will bring for all of eternity. 

Join me in making movements towards Him in adoration and worshiping in hope of the coming King. Lay down what does not allow you to adore Him and cling to truth over cheer this season. He is better—let us adore Him together. 

Hannah is a creative at heart who lives in Lynchburg, VA with her husband. She is an avid reader, graphic maker, coffee drinker, and adventure seeker. She loves people and the richness they bring to her life. If you would like to follow along with her, find her on instagram as @hannahbweaves or on Facebook as Hannah Boeckman Weaver .