Listen to the Voice

A Reflection for Saturday, December 6 by Sheli Sloterbeek 

Lectionary reading for 12/06/2025: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 40:1-11; John 1:19-28;Selected passage for reflection: Isaiah 40:1-11

Read

Isaiah 40:1-11 NLT

“Comfort, comfort my people,”

says your God.

2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.

Tell her that her sad days are gone

and her sins are pardoned.

Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over

for all her sins.”

3 Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,

“Clear the way through the wilderness

for the Lord!

Make a straight highway through the wasteland

for our God!

4 Fill in the valleys,

and level the mountains and hills.

Straighten the curves,

and smooth out the rough places.

5 Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,

and all people will see it together.

The Lord has spoken!”[a]

6 A voice said, “Shout!”

I asked, “What should I shout?”

“Shout that people are like the grass.

Their beauty fades as quickly

as the flowers in a field.

7 The grass withers and the flowers fade

beneath the breath of the Lord.

And so it is with people.

8 The grass withers and the flowers fade,

but the word of our God stands forever.”

9 O Zion, messenger of good news,

shout from the mountaintops!

Shout it louder, O Jerusalem.[b]

Shout, and do not be afraid.

Tell the towns of Judah,

“Your God is coming!”

10 Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power.

He will rule with a powerful arm.

See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.

11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd.

He will carry the lambs in his arms,

holding them close to his heart.

He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

Reflect & Respond

Today I invite you to read this passage of scripture slowly and aloud and in small sections.  Perhaps you can imagine yourself in the place of the author. Imagine yourself sitting somewhere with a pen and parchment, and you and God having this conversation. Perhaps you even write this passage of scripture by hand and then read it aloud.

As you read through verses 1 & 2 slowly, notice the instructions given to the writer. God is asking the author to comfort the people. The writer has been given instructions to speak tenderly to the people. This is a message of hope. It begins gently and tenderly.

What words of tenderness does God have for you today?

As you continue reading slowly the volume of exchange begins to increase through verses 3-5. There's excitement about what’s coming. It’s a call to prepare for the journey ahead, anticipating the proclamation of something wonderful. 

Advent is a time of preparation for the joyful coming of Christ. How will you prepare your heart, your internal and external journey for the goodness that is to come?

Verse 6  A voice said, “Shout!”    I asked, “What should I shout?”

The author hears the invitation from God and then asks for clarification. 

Is there an invitation waiting for you in your own life? Do you need clarification? It’s okay to ask. 

Verses 6-9  are the author gaining clarification and shouting in excitement and freedom of the promises of God being offered. 

What are the promises being offered to you today? Place your hand on your heart or chest and speak the promises out loud. Shout them! 

Take a deep breath.  Bring the volume of your voice back down to a regular speaking voice. Enter into the last two verses as you began, with gentleness and tenderness. 

Imagine yourself as the sheep. Imagine being carried in the arms of Christ - being held close to heart. 

What do you feel as you’re being held gently and tenderly close to the heart of Christ? What might God have to whisper in your soft ear and say to you as you’re being carried? If you’re feeling some resistance to being carried - know God is still with you - perhaps you can enter into a conversation about the resistance with Christ. 

Rest 

Rest in prayer with the words of Charles Wesley.

Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,

look upon a little child,

pity my simplicity,

suffer me to come to thee.

Loving Jesus, gentle Lamb,

in thy gracious hands I am;

make me, Saviour, what thou art,

live thyself within my heart.

I shall then show forth thy praise,

serve thee all my happy days;

then the world shall always see

Christ, the holy Child, in me.

About the Author 

Sheli Sloterbeek is a trained spiritual director, yoga teacher, writer, speaker and retreat leader. She is passionate about living wholly – spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. She lives just outside Lancaster, Pennsylvania with her husband, John, daughter and a darling mini-schnoodle who keep life entertaining. You can find her online at www.aslowjourney.com or reach out to her at sheli@aslowjourney.com.