Linger Here: An Advent Reflection

Advent has looked a little different for us this year. Many evenings, my daughter—who turns eight just a few days before Christmas—settles beside me with her devotional. As we read together, I’ve found myself trying to explain what Advent actually is. 

What I’ve discovered is that teaching a child slows you down. It invites you to pull back the layers and focus on the heart of things. And maybe that’s what Advent is meant to do for all of us—to help us to slow our pace, quiet our minds, and linger a little longer with the Lord.

December fills quickly with good things: church programs, family gatherings, ministry responsibilities, and the rhythms we enjoy. Even so, it’s easy to move through this season without giving our hearts room to breathe. As I’ve talked with my daughter, I’ve sensed the Lord reminding me to pause, to sit still, and to pay attention.

Advent has become a way for us to pause and let the truth of Christ’s coming settle more deeply into our hearts. We live on this side of the story—after His birth, His life, His death, and His resurrection. Yet there is something spiritually shaping about entering into the longing God’s people once felt. 

It teaches us to hope. It helps us see the faithfulness of God across Scripture. And it reminds us that we are still a people waiting for Christ to come again. In this season, may we not hurry past the wonder of it all, but choose instead to linger—together—before the One who has come and will come again.

Linger in the Mystery of the Incarnation

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father. (John 1:14)

John’s words invite us to linger before the mystery of what God has done. The eternal Word stepped into time. The glory of God did not remain distant or inaccessible. He came near. He took on flesh. He lived among people who could see Him, hear Him, and touch Him.

Sitting with passages like this slows us down long enough to feel the weight of something we often rush past. Jesus entered the world with the limitations of a real human body, yet He carried the fullness of God’s glory. The incarnation is not simply a doctrine to affirm but a reality meant to draw us into worship.

And John’s words do not stand alone. They are woven into everything God has been unfolding from the beginning. All of Scripture points to Christ, and here we see how the long story of redemption reaches its turning point in Him.

Linger in the Story of Redemption

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. (Isaiah 9:2)

Isaiah gave these words to a people familiar with disappointment and longing. They lived under the weight of their own sin and the brokenness around them, yet God promised a light that would break through. Advent invites us to linger in this Scripture and remember what it means for God to shine hope into places that feel hopeless.

Reading Isaiah slowly reminds us that redemption has always been God’s initiative. He is the One who enters the darkness with light. He is the One who keeps His promises. When we trace this theme through Scripture, we see how beautifully Christ fulfills Isaiah’s hope.

Scripture tells one story, with every part moving toward Christ. The child born in Bethlehem is the light Isaiah foresaw and the hope God promised all along.

Linger in the Hope That Is Still to Come

[Christ] will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:28)

Hebrews lifts our eyes beyond Bethlehem and points us toward Christ’s return. Advent is not only a season of remembering; it is a season of expectation. This Scripture reminds us that we are a waiting people. Christ came once to deal with sin, and He will come again to complete His work and gather His people to Himself.

Lingering in this passage helps us see Advent for what it truly is: a season of training. It shapes our hope. It teaches us to wait well. And as we trace the broader story of Scripture, we recognize that the promise of Christ’s return is woven throughout. From Genesis to Revelation, the whole arc of Scripture pushes our hope forward, urging us to anticipate the day when Christ makes all things new.

How We Can Linger This Season

Lingering does not require adding more to an already full month. It simply invites us to be intentional with our attention and open to the ways the Lord meets us in His Word. Here are a few gentle ways to practice lingering:

• Read Scripture slowly, and consider taking in the whole story rather than only the familiar Advent passages. Our family has enjoyed The Biggest Story Advent Devotional by Kevin DeYoung. It begins in Genesis and walks through Scripture, showing how every promise and pattern leads to Christ. It reminds us that Advent rests on the foundation of the entire biblical story.

• Build a rhythm of worship, reflection, and prayer. For several years, I have appreciated O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, a liturgy that includes daily Scripture readings, a call to worship, reflections, and prayer. It offers a gentle rhythm that helps the heart slow down.

• Create small margins for stillness. A few minutes before bed, a quiet pause in the car, or a moment of silence before beginning the day can become meaningful spaces to reflect and respond.

A Closing Advent Prayer

If Advent teaches us anything, it’s that we don’t have to hurry past what God is doing. As we consider what it means to pause in this season, it feels right to take a moment and respond in prayer. Let this moment be one more way we linger with the Lord.

Lord, quiet our hearts this Advent season. Teach us to linger with You and to slow down long enough to remember the beauty of Your coming and the certainty of Your promises. Help us look back with gratitude and forward with hope. As we read, reflect, and wait, let our hearts rest in Christ and long for the day He returns. Amen.