Advent Devotional for November 28

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Advent Devotional for Monday, November 28

Psalm 79

A woman I know in Northern Ireland lost her husband at an early age. One minute they were on a family vacation on the coast; the next, while holding their newborn child, he suffered an immediately fatal heart attack. In her early forties, she was widowed with four small children. Her husband was not only the love of her life, but also the family’s sole source of income.

Grief-stricken and hopeless, she sought council from her parish priest. In the midst of her outpouring, she finally mustered the courage to tell him how deeply, viscerally angry she was with God for letting this happen. This old Irish priest responded by quietly leading her into the sanctuary and standing her right in front of the altar. After a few moments of silence, he told her: “Tell God how angry you are at Him. Scream, yell, and weep for as much and as long as you wish. The Almighty can bear your grief. He hears you.”

In a similar way, Psalm 79 is Israel’s stance before God in a period of utter pain and desolation. It is tempting for us to shirk away from intense texts such as these, but the same powerfully emotive lines that make us recoil can also carry us to God in our darker hours. In this season of waiting, let us adopt these ancient words as our own and trust that we too are heard.

Ever-near Spirit of God, who prays for us when we cannot, inspire us to claim these scriptures from the shadows; so that the Coming Light may more fully enter our lives. Amen.

Bart Smith
MDiv Student
Student Body President

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For the glory of God and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary in the Presbyterian-Reformed tradition whose mission is to educate and equip individuals for the ordained Christian ministry and other forms of Christian service and leadership; to employ its resources in the service of the church; to promote and engage in critical theological thought and research; and to be a winsome and exemplary community of God's people.