Advent Devotions
All are invited as we Make Room this Advent season.
Down from the Mountaintop
If we’re lucky, we’ll find moments in life when we feel completely in tune with God’s presence—when we experience joy, clarity, or a deep sense of purpose. These mountaintop moments remind us of God’s glory. Yet, as much as we might cherish them, life is not lived solely on the mountaintop. We must come down into the valley, where struggle and uncertainty await.
As we heard yesterday from Luke 9, Jesus is transfigured before his disciples, revealing his divine radiance. Peter wants to stay, to build a shelter, to hold onto this holy moment. But Jesus knows that glory and struggle are intertwined. As they descend the mountain, they are met with pain—a father pleading for his suffering child, disciples struggling with doubt. Jesus heals the boy, yet his disciples still fail to grasp the path ahead.
Like them, we wrestle with uncertainty, wishing for faith that is always bright and clear. But discipleship often means following Jesus through both the light and the shadows. God is present not just in moments of wonder, but also in the depths of our struggles. Our faith is not about escaping hardship, but about trusting that God’s love holds us through it.
May you find yourself in God’s story today. -Pastor Peter
Let’s pray… God of both glory and struggle, help us trust your presence in every moment. Strengthen us in hardship, and lead us forward in faith. Amen.
Previously…
Moments of Grace
Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Antoinette Sveom. Dale, Trudy, and their baby, Karri Manley, lived two houses away from us in Northeast Minneapolis for about a year. I was working on my education degree, and since Trudy was also a teacher, we had a lot to...
The Journey
Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Micah Sethi. Photo by Mason B. on Unsplash A couple weeks ago, I went on a biking trip to Stillwater with some friends. It happened a lot later in the year than we wanted to due to weather and scheduling problems, but this was...
Be Not Afraid
Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Jean Olson. “I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4) For the Christian church, ADVENT is a period of time pregnant with expectation, while a weary world waits for...
Ordinary People – Extraordinary Stories
Today's devotional author is Prince of Peace member, Karlind Moller. I had some difficulty thinking about how I could/would approach our Advent devotional theme: Ordinary People—Extraordinary Stories. I asked myself, what is ordinary? Who are ordinary people? How are...