This blog is an excerpt from Joy of Every Longing Heart | Sustained by Jesus in Our Waiting and Weariness.

As you get ready to celebrate Advent this year, consider grabbing your own copy of Joy of Every Longing Heart before you dive in—so you can carry today’s reflection into the whole season ahead.

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It’s finally time! One by one, the precious contents of carefully labeled boxes are unpacked—ornaments, holiday recipe books, a family heirloom Nativity set, and festive decorations in all shades of red and green. In only a few hours, the house is transformed from ordinary to overflowing with holiday cheer. Yet sometimes a decorated home looks more cheery than it feels, doesn’t it? For all the joy that Christmas brings, it comes bearing sorrow as well. Broken relationships. Mounting financial burdens. Anxiety that won’t release its grip. The sting of unmet desires. Comparison. Grief. Pressure. Beneath the sparkling shimmer of Christmas is often unrelenting weariness.

It’s not just the Christmas season that causes weariness. You’ve likely felt weary all year-round. Weariness isn’t just a seasonal issue—it’s an experience that affects all of humanity. When Adam and Eve first disobeyed God, sin entered the world and, with it, weariness. (More to come on this tomorrow.) People have been weary from sin, tired from striving, and praying for a ray of light to break through the dark dreariness of their souls ever since. Advent is the answer to this prayer: Advent anticipates the arrival of Jesus, the Light of the World. Though the world is dark due to sin and the wait seems long for light to dawn, Jesus is the promised Messiah—the promised dawn of hope. The hope Jesus offers is shown through Isaiah 9:2–7, which proclaims the joy He will bring at His birth. Because Jesus is the promised child who brought joy to His people, you have light in the weariness and darkness that sin causes in your life.

Today’s passage begins with the word “nevertheless” (Isaiah 9:1), which tells us that what follows will happen despite what came before. So, what came before? Isaiah 8 ends with a warning about coming distress, affliction, and thick darkness. These are the consequences God’s people will soon endure—physically and spiritually—due to their sin and rebellion against God. Physically, the imposing Assyrian army is about to capture and exile God’s people. They will lose their security and freedom, becoming captives of their enemy. Spiritually, their capture is a punishment from God for their repeated idolatry and disobedience. Both outwardly and inwardly, God’s people would experience the effects of their sin.

Nevertheless, Isaiah 9 shines a ray of hope into the gloom of their reality. One day, the darkness will end, and there will be a great light. Once this light has dawned, joy will replace the gloom (Isaiah 9:3). Isaiah 9:4–6 gives three reasons for this radiant joy.

You will have joy, for your oppressors are defeated and gone (Isaiah 9:4).

You will have joy, for there is peace and you no longer need your garments of war—you might as well burn them in the fire (Isaiah 9:5)!

You will have joy, for a child will be born (Isaiah 9:6).

Given the impending invasion of the Assyrian army, the first two reasons make perfect sense. But how could a child bring joy in the midst of a dark and bloody battle? The answer lies in the child’s identity. He isn’t just any child; He’s a remarkable child. Let’s look closely at Isaiah 9:6 to learn more. First, we learn this child is a human. We know this because He will be born as a baby. But He’s not only human. He’s also a son on whose shoulders the government will rest. From this, it’s clear He has power and strength and holds an important position. The verse goes on to tell us His names. Biblical names often reveal one’s character and nature. These names tell us about the character of the child who will bring joy to God’s people.

The first name given to the child is Wonderful Counselor. The word “wonderful” doesn’t just mean “amazing” in this context; it means total, mouth-gaping, awe-inspiring marvel. And when you pair “Wonderful” with “Counselor,” this name refers to someone who has astounding wisdom.

The child will also be called Mighty God. A more easily understood translation of this name—El Gibbor in Hebrew—might be “God-Hero.” This child will be God! And because He is God, He will have heroic strength.

The next name given is Eternal Father, which may seem like a strange name to give to a child. But this name doesn’t indicate that the child is a biological dad. Remember, names indicate a person’s character. This name tells you that the child will care for and guide His people like a father. Because He’s an Eternal Father, He will do this for all time!

The final name revealed is Prince of Peace. This child will free God’s people from the bondage and war they are about to experience. He will give them physical peace on earth, and He will restore spiritual peace between them and God.

Who is this remarkable child? He is Jesus. Jesus has astounding wisdom that He uses to govern all things (Matthew 13:54). Jesus demonstrated His divinity and heroic strength when He endured the cross, suffered death, and then miraculously rose again (Romans 1:4). Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for and guides His people for all eternity (John 10:11). Jesus has made peace between God and His people (Romans 5:1). And Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12). His arrival was the great light, the dawn for people in darkness (Matthew 4:13–17). Jesus is the child who will bring peace and joy to God’s people in the midst of their trouble and trials.

Jesus wouldn’t physically arrive for about seven hundred years after Isaiah’s prophecy. Even though the original hearers of Isaiah’s prophecy wouldn’t witness Jesus’s arrival, they put their hope in a coming Messiah and found peace and joy in the promise that He would arrive one day. They experienced the joy of the assurance that He would come, even as they longed for His arrival.

And Jesus is the child who brings peace and joy to you in the midst of your trouble and trials. As you walk through this study and the Advent season, you will feel the effects of sin and suffering in your life. You will long for Jesus to come and make all things right. You will be weary beneath the crushing load of life. And you will see the faithfulness of God to provide peace and rest to His people as they wait for Him. Though the wait seems long for light to dawn in your life, darkness won’t last forever. A child was born, and He has illuminated the darkness. He has entered the weary world to save you from the despair of sin and darkness. Jesus is your light and your salvation.

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If you liked this article, check out the related resources linked below!

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Author Bio

Shelby Turner is the Director of Acquisitions for the Daily Grace Co.® She is particularly passionate about teaching people that the Bible is not only for pastors and professors, it is for them, and it applies to their everyday lives—their taking care of little ones, making it through the work day, and waking to do it all again tomorrow.

Related Resources:

The Complete Advent Collection Bundle		Made for Him | Rest Bible Study		A Joy That Endures Bible Study		Fullness of Joy
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