Journeying Through Advent—Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love
Can I pull up a chair and chat with you for a moment? This season—Advent—is one of my favorite times of year, but I know it might not be familiar to everyone. Whether you’ve been lighting Advent candles since you were a child or you’re just hearing the word for the first time, this series is for you.
Advent is the four weeks leading up to Christmas. It’s a season of waiting, preparation, and reflection as we look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming.” It’s all about anticipation—of Christ’s first coming as a baby in Bethlehem and His promised return to make all things new.
Each week of Advent focuses on a different theme: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. These are more than words—they’re promises, gifts that God has given us through Jesus. Advent invites us to pause in the middle of the hustle and bustle, to reflect on these gifts, and to make space for them in our lives.
Why This Matters Now
If you’re anything like me, you might be feeling a little weary. The past year has been full of challenges that have left many of us drained—emotionally, mentally, even spiritually. And for Black women especially, it’s been a season of reckoning. We’ve given so much of ourselves to our families, our communities, and our work, only to feel overlooked and undervalued in the spaces where we’ve poured out our hearts.
That’s why Advent is so timely. It reminds us that we don’t have to carry it all. We don’t have to fix everything or have all the answers. Advent gives us permission to slow down, to grieve, to hope, to rest, and to celebrate.
And through it all, it points us back to the one constant in our lives: Jesus.
A Journey Together
Over the next four weeks, I’ll be walking with you through each theme of Advent. Together, we’ll unpack what it means to hold onto hope when the world feels dark, to find peace when our spirits are weary, to rediscover joy in the middle of hard times, and to embrace the kind of love that heals and transforms.
Each post will weave together the timeless truth of Scripture, the lived experiences of Black women, and the beautiful gift of Christ’s coming. I’ll be sharing reflections, prayers, and practical ways to make space for these themes in your life.
So grab your favorite mug, light a candle, and settle in. This is a season for you—to breathe, to reflect, and to remember the profound truth of Christmas: Emmanuel, God with us.
Whether you’re new to Advent or it’s a tradition you’ve celebrated for years, I hope this series will bless you and remind you that you are seen, loved, and held by the One who came just for you. Let’s take this journey together.