Excerpted from The Wonder of Advent Devotional by Chris Tiegreen

He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.
– Isaiah 61:2

Isaiah’s messianic prophecy—one among many—promises a crown of beauty in the place of ashes, a blessing in the place of mourning, and dancing and praise in the place of despair. As people who have experienced the wounds and brokenness of living in a fallen world, that’s really good news for us to hear. We long for beauty, blessing, and dancing. We need this coming Messiah. And we need him to be very real in our lives.

Reflection

In what places of ashes and mourning would you like God to provide restoration? What holes in your heart do you want him to fill?