A Reflection for Wednesday, December 11, 2024 by Rev. Alicia Vela Anderson
Lectionary reading for 12/11/2024: Psalm 126; Isaiah 35:3-7; Luke 7:18-30;
Selected passage for reflection: Isaiah 35:3-7
Read
Isaiah 35:3-7 NRSVUE
Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance,with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be opened; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.For waters shall break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert;the burning sand shall become a pool and the thirsty ground springs of water;the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp; the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
Reflect
At the very beginning of my journey of understanding God, I latched onto a verse in Hebrews that I stumbled upon by accident. Hebrews 12:12-13 says, “So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.” At the time, I didn’t really understand that these verses were in a broader section about God’s discipline. All I knew is that at my young age of 16, tired hands and weak knees described the chaotic world that I felt surrounded by. For a long time, that verse felt like an encouragement that, with God’s help, I could find a way to take a new grip with my tired hands, and strengthen my weak knees to be able to walk and lead others. That’s what these two verses, taken out of context, felt like they were saying to my young heart.
But as I grew in my understanding, I read the rest of the chapter and realized that the author of Hebrews is actually reminding the reader that sin is prevalent and we may find ourselves being disciplined by God because of our acceptance of sin. In our discipline, we are meant to take a new grip and strengthen our knees to lead others in God’s way, rather than in sinful ways.
Here in Isaiah, we read a similar phrase, but this one feels like a promise rather than a rebuke. This time, it’s the promise of the redeemed being spoken over us. As if the writer is saying, “I know this landscape feels scary and unknown, but your God will come.” The joy of the redeemed comes from this promise, that the God of all ages, the God of deliverance is coming to bring healing, life, and light to this dry earth. Our job in the waiting is to strengthen our weak hands and steady our feeble knees, whispering words of hope to others who are fearful.
We know this task is hard, to continue to stand strong on the promise while it feels like everything around us is falling apart. I honestly think that’s why the instructions include to “say to those with fearful hearts, Be strong, do not fear.” I think God knows that the best place to work out this waiting is in community. That as you say these things to others, you’re also saying them to yourself.
One phrase, two contexts, two different ways of seeing the same words. I believe there’s a time and place for both. There will be days where we need to remember that we have to fight the sin that surrounds us. But I believe in this advent season, we are meant to wait on the promise, to find comfort in community, and prepare our hearts for God to come and dwell among us.
There are times I wish that 16 year old me would have found Isaiah 35 before Hebrews 12. But the beauty of our God and of our scriptures, is that they are alive. The Spirit protected my tender heart, allowed me to take the Isaiah redemptive promise from the Hebrews rebuke. Beloved friends, remember that the advent season is a season of waiting, of hoping, of finding peace in the quiet rest, even in the midst of chaos. It’s okay to take a break and let the promises of God provide you and your community with encouragement.
Respond
May I suggest a mantra for this season? May we take the words of Isaiah 35:4 as our mantra, our kind word to ourselves and one another. “Be strong, do not fear. Here is your God.” Say it to yourself today in a moment of fear, say it to someone else who needs to hear it.
Rest
God of all Creation, as we sit in the waiting, remind us of your presence. Remind us to find rest and strength in your presence. Speak kindly to our fearful hearts, reminding us to slow down. Fill us up with your love for others, with your grace for ourselves. Illuminate the community where we can find your comfort with one another, grant us spaces of peace and understanding. Amen.
About the Author
Rev. Alicia Vela Anderson is a pastor who is passionate about leadership development, walking alongside those who are reconsidering church, and helping kids and youth discover their voices and gifts to impact the world. She's also a writer, speaker, and pop culture enthusiast. She lives in Chicago and loves exploring new neighborhoods with her husband Jed.
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