God Came. That Changes Everything.

When I was a little girl, waiting for Christmas felt interminable. Each early December day stretched on forever, with one truth burning brightly in the back of my mind: Christmas was coming.

Now, as an adult, the lead-up to Christmas feels less like waiting and more like rushing. Between travel plans, visiting loved ones, cooking meals, and preparing gifts, the only ever-present truth in the back of my mind is often just this: I have to keep going.

Yet no matter my state of mind, one carol still has the power to stop me in my tracks: O Holy Night. Its words slow my pace, quiet my heart, and draw me back to the reason for both the longing and the preparation.

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

These lyrics remind me of the seismic shift Christ’s arrival ushered into the world.

God came. And in His coming, the weary world found hope.

Jesus entered fully into our beauty, our worries, our longings, our divisions, and our mess. God chose humility over power, love over domination, and in that choice, a tiny baby turned the world upside down.

That night, the angels sang, too—not to kings or the powerful, but to shepherds working among livestock in the night. 

Luke 2:10 tells us their words: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

For all people. The announcement wasn’t reserved for the privileged or perfect but for everyone, everywhere. And the hope we cling to in Advent is that this good news is still for all of us—whether we’re waiting, rushing, mourning, or dreaming.

The carol continues:

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name, all oppression shall cease.

This is the promise of Christmas—the promise of Advent. Jesus didn’t come to merely observe our struggles; He came to transform them. His law is love. His Gospel is peace. He invites us to embrace a love so extravagant it breaks chains, mends divisions, and renews weary souls.

My prayer for us this Advent season is that we would slow down and feel the full weight of our worth in God’s eyes. May we be overwhelmed by how deeply we are loved—loved enough for God to enter into human fragility and draw near to us.

And once we have felt this, may we have eyes to see each other—all souls—through the lens of this marvelous worth. This is the heart of Advent: waiting with hope, living in peace, rejoicing in love, and preparing with joy for the arrival of the One who makes all things new.

Question for Reflection

Today, no matter what you need to accomplish, take a minute to slow down. Breathe deep. Be in this moment, in the here and the now. Look for Jesus. Expect Him to come. Where do you feel weary? Where in your life do you long for His presence? Take a moment to invite Jesus into those places. How might Christ's arrival transform your perspective and give you rest?

Amy Olrick’s work and writing have been featured in the Guardian, USA Today, and ChristianParenting.org. She and her husband, Dr. Jeffrey Olrick, are co-authors of the book, The 6 Needs of Every Child: Empowering Parents & Kids through the Science of Connection and share parenting resources at GrowingConnected.com