2025 Advent Devotion: Day 14

Sunday, December 14

Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10 ; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

June the 14th, 2022, was a special day for us as a family. Jenna, our 10-year-old granddaughter, had a kidney transplant. Her father, Kyle, was the donor. It was a silent moment for all of us as a family. Questions, concerns, and worries were present as all of us waited in silence, not only for the transplant, but for the years ahead.

For the past three years, we have seen God’s presence, care and faithfulness as Jenna, and all of us, walk by faith, waiting in the Lord. The above passages couldn’t be more precise and on target for what we have been experiencing.

What a combination of passages! Each one of them is presenting the magnificency, splendor, greatness, strength, presence, faithfulness, and power of our God! The prophet Isaiah describes in a vivid way how our God, Yahweh, has been and will be present, caring and supporting His creation: strengthening the weak hands, opening the eyes of the blind, clearing the ears of the deaf and encouraging us to be strong and not to fear!

In these days, as we look around the world, what an appropriate, intentional and contextual message it is. The presence of dispair, frustration, and fear may be present. However, we are confident that our God is present, alive and active in our land. David, the psalmist, reminds us that God is faithful forever! How easy it is to forget this affirmation that God’s faithfulness has been, is, and will be forever. As I read Psalms 146, it shows our God acting and having been present, not only for the physical miracles, but for the assurance that we are not alone. God’s faithfulness was present, not only to make the blind see, but He is the One who protects the immigrants and the One who helps orphans and widows. For all that, the psalmist invites us to “Praise the Lord!”

These past three years, and hopefully more to come, have been a time of “waiting” in the Lord. God has been faithful, even in helping us to develop patience. As Jenna goes back and forth for medical check-ups, we still are learning to rest and wait in the Lord. For some reason, James reminds us as he says “you must be patient as you wait.” The word in the Greek language is makrothumeó. Interestingly enough, to “be patient,” has the connotation of a steady, purposeful action that rests on faith in God’s character and timing. And, we have been living under that reality for the past long three years and today, one day at the time. No doubt, it has not been easy, but we have seen God’s strength, not only to Jenna and her parents, but to all of us.

Matthew’s narrative goes along with the previous passages. The above description of the Almighty God in character and action, invites all of us as His followers, to be continuous witnesses, not only of what we see, but also of what we hear. Sunday morning, as I saw my grandaughter walking the aisle, carrying the Christian flag as a part of the worship service, these Bible passages brought my attention to remember that in spite of our condition, limitations, and struggles, God still is God. His invitation is to recognize who He is and put our trust, not only in what He does, but in God as our strength. Therefore, He invites us to be strong and to not fear, because He is faithful forever!


Hebert Palomino
Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling