But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31

I went to a concert of singer/songwriters last night, and one of the artists* shared honestly about the miscarriage he and wife suffered during Christmas one year. He sang a song he wrote a week after their loss, telling us how Christmas for them is a reminder that they are childless. It was moving and brave and a solemn reminder of this season of hope – the season of Advent.

I find myself embracing these holidays with similar sentiments – expectant for what the next chapter will bring. Ready to shed off the layers of grief and baggage that inevitably got picked up during the current one. And happy that a new beginning is almost here – even if it’s just marked by a date on the calendar.

And I know I’m not alone. While we all want to go around “fa la la la la’ing” this December, the truth is that hope is hardest on this side of waiting.

The side where we are anticipating that thing we long for: healing, a new baby, the right relationship, the perfect job. A time when we reflect on and remember those we lost in the previous 12 months. A spotlight shone on broken friendships, broken families, and maybe even our own loneliness. 

And yet, these “in-between” seasons are the ones where so much of life happens. The ones where practicing gratitude is truly put to the test. When patience really does become a virtue. And we are forced to walk in faith and surrender in trust that the Creator who put the stars in the sky is working all things for good, even in the details of our own lives. 

If you find yourself in such a season, know that you are not alone.

You are loved. 

You are seen. 

If you’re reading this, I am thankful for you. 

I pray that the end of your waiting comes soon. That around the corner is a reprieve to rest, heal, and recover. To be content and celebrate. 

And in the meantime, may you be aware of the love, kindness, and grace you are being pursued with moment by moment. Most of all, may you find hope. Because it turns out, hope is also most necessary on this side of waiting. 

*Note: the artist I referred to is John van Deusen – here’s the story behind the song he played, Absentee Heartbeat.

[Photo: Driving through Swall Meadows just south of Mammoth two weekends ago, anticipating what was around the corner]