A Simple Advent Rhythm

Photo by Sofia Holmberg on Unsplash

“I (almost) always come limping into Advent, desperate for light, but almost too tired to look for it. Then I remember: The Light came looking for me, and that’s the whole point.”

— Annie B. Jones

I stumbled upon this quote last year during Advent when I was nearly eight weeks pregnant and not feeling the greatest physically or mentally. The first trimester of my pregnancy was hard for me, and I very much resonated with Annie’s words as I, too, was limping into the season not feeling at all like myself.

Advent is normally my favorite church season of the liturgical year, but the last two years— this year included —it’s felt a little… different. As I reflect on this latest noticing, it makes total sense because I now have a four-month-old baby girl at home, whom I love and adore with every fiber of my being.

But, I’ve changed.

My life has been flipped upside down in the best sort of way, but that doesn’t mean it’s been easy. Change is good — it helps us grow and learn to rely on God in new ways, drawing us into deeper communion with Him. But it can also be hard. I’m finding that new motherhood holds a lot of joy and grief. Joy in this new little soul that I get the blessed honor and privilege of stewarding, loving, and guiding throughout her life. And grief, too, as I learn to let go of my life and who I was before she got here.

Because of this, it’s been quite challenging trying to find ways to connect and commune with God that fit within this new phase of my life. It’s been four months since Gracie arrived and although I’m a little more settled than I was when I first came home from the hospital, I still feel a bit shaky. My soul still feels a bit scattered with all of this… newness. Familiarity is not something that frequents my life often lately, and it’s felt jarring.

So, this year, too, I find myself once again limping into Advent.

Limping into Advent bone tired with a heart I didn’t know could feel this full.

Limping into Advent unsteady and weary with a soft smile on my face and hands holding both the joy and the grief of motherhood.

Tired hands and arms holding her… a love so deep, it has completely unraveled me.

I want to behold God here, right here, in the midst of washing baby bottles and changing diapers and hunting for the pacifier… again. I want to encounter Shekinah Glory — the kind that penetrates the darkness and intertwines Himself with His people in the greatest act of Love that the world has ever witnessed.

God With Us.

I want to find Him here, right here, this Advent season in such a way that I don’t go running after Him but rather notice Him coming for me. Advent — adventus — to come and be present.

He comes to me. He’s present to me.

The God of the Universe notices me.

And because of this, I long to notice Him. I long to abide and rest in His goodness amidst my weariness. Amidst all this change, I want to know Him here and learn what it means to behold Him as a new mom and as a woman who is still a little dazed and confused and maybe even a little scared and lonely at times. As a woman loved by God who is now being invited to rediscover this new and very unfamiliar version of herself.

Maybe you resonate with my heart posture this Advent season, friend. Maybe my weariness and my tiredness and my lack of familiarity hits something deep inside of you, too. If so, I want to share with you a simple Advent practice that I feel invited to engage with this year. Maybe together, you and I can begin to find God in our limping and seeking and needing.

This practice is called ‘Candle & Scripture Pause’. I was researching simple Advent rhythms for busy moms and this one called to me. Its simplicity attracted me to it the most, and perhaps you’ll feel invited to try it, too. Here’s how it works.

Set the Tone: Light a candle (or even use a battery-powered one if you prefer) in a peaceful spot in your home. This signals to your heart and mind that it’s time to pause, inviting you to become more aware of God’s presence with you.

Short Scripture Reflection: Choose a short verse or passage tied to the Advent theme for the day. For example, focus on hope, peace, joy, or love. Read it, meditate on it for a minute, and ask God how you can embody that theme throughout your day.

Whispered Prayer: End with a one- or two-sentence prayer or. For example: “Lord, help me bring Your peace into my work and home today. May Your light shine through me.” You could also adapt your own breath prayer for the week using the verse you’re meditating on.

That’s it. Just three simple steps to help awaken your awareness of God with you. Just three simple steps that can help you return to Christ throughout your day and throughout this Advent season. If you need a Scripture guide, I’ve created one for myself that I want to share with you. It’s nothing fancy or professionally made, but I hope it helps you nonetheless. You can download it here:

The guide is broken up into four weeks, and each week of Advent consists of a theme — the four familiar themes of the Advent season: hope, peace, joy, and love. Each day, there’s a new Bible verse related to that theme for you to linger with and ponder with the Holy Spirit.

I’m finding simplicity in my rhythms and spiritual practices to be very life-giving for me in this season of new motherhood. I’m learning that as I’m being stretched, God only asks me to reach out a hand so He can hold it.

It’s here, in that holding and intertwining of hands that Christ’s peace rests on me. It’s in being held that I can breathe easy and behold Him already beholding me.

I know it’s been a while since I’ve written you, friend. And to be honest, I’m not really sure what my new rhythm of writing to you is going to look like in this season of my life. Truthfully, I’m still trying to find my footing as a new mom and I ask for your grace as I try and navigate what this space is going to require of me. I would love, for now, to drop into your inbox monthly. But I’m going to be holding that rhythm loosely for obvious reasons. The formatting of these letters might change a bit, too.

No matter what this space morphs into as I grow into my new role as mom, I’m so very grateful for your presence here. I must say that this is one space that does feel familiar, and that’s so refreshing. It’s just the person who’s writing that suddenly feels unfamiliar, so I’m going to slowly work toward fusing the two somehow, in God’s grace and timing.

So, thanks for sticking with me through it. It means more to me than you know.

I pray a blessing of peace over you no matter how you may be entering into this Advent season — limping, walking, running, jumping, or maybe even crawling.

All of it is sacred, all of it is holy and wholly human.

All of it — all of you — is held.

May you rest in that truth this Advent season.

With you on the journey,

Celia

*If not, you’ll still receive a monthly letter and retain full access to the archive! Nothing changes. You’ll still get the full experience! Pledges just help to support my work :)

Inhale: Behold.

Exhale: Your King comes to you.

(adapted Zechariah 9:9)

*If you’d like to learn more about the practice of breath prayer, download this complete digital guide to practicing breath prayer.

My Etsy shop, The Beholding Co., offers Advent breath prayer cards and a digital Advent devotional. Everything in my shop is 25% off today only, so go grab something fun before the sale ends!

Here’s a list of a few of my favorite Advent devotionals:

The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas by Ann Voskamp

Honest Advent: Awakening to the Wonder of God-with-Us Then, Here, and Now by Scott Erickson

Advent & Christmas: Wisdom from St. Francis of Assisi

Come, Lord Jesus: The Weight of Waiting by Kris Camealy

For those who like to listen rather than read, Emily P. Freeman just launched her 10-day audio Advent reflection known as The Quiet Collection for Christmas. This year’s theme is peace. Download her app and purchase it there: The Quiet Collection

What are you most longing for this Advent season?