Read Isaiah 40:1-11

Waiting can shrink your view of God. When prayers go unanswered or the future feels uncertain, your eyes naturally drift to the things you can see—problems, limitations, fears. Isaiah calls you to lift your eyes higher. “Go on up to a high mountain… say, ‘Here is your God!’” This isn’t denial of difficulty. It’s redirecting your gaze toward the One who stands above every storm, every delay, every unknown.

Isaiah wants you to see a God who comes with power—not passive, not hesitant, not distant. The Sovereign Lord approaches with strength and authority. Your waiting is not stronger than God. Your obstacles are not bigger than His purposes. Even when you can’t see movement, He is working behind the scenes with a power that cannot be stopped. Advent reminds you that God’s power is not abstract—it is personal. He uses His strength for your good.

But Isaiah also shows God’s heart. Right after describing His power, he describes His tenderness. The God who comes in strength also comes as a Shepherd who gathers, carries, and gently leads. Strength and tenderness are not opposites in God—they are the two hands by which He holds you. In waiting seasons, you need both. You need a God big enough to handle what overwhelms you and gentle enough to walk with you through it.

Jesus embodies this perfectly. His birth announces a God who comes close in power and compassion. His life reveals strength that heals and love that carries. As you wait, you don’t wait alone. You wait with the One who moves mountains and also kneels beside you. Lift your eyes today. Behold your God. He has not forgotten you. He is coming with power and He is coming with love.

Reflection Questions:

• What fears or limitations tend to shrink your view of God?
  
• How does God’s combination of strength and tenderness encourage you?
  
• Where do you need to lift your eyes above your circumstances?
  
• How can you behold God more intentionally today?

Journaling Prompt:

 Write about a time when God showed both His power and His gentleness in your life. Reflect on how that shapes your trust now.