Advent Meditation: Faith, Doubt, and the Risk of “Yes”

Texts:  The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) and Matthew 11:2-11

Center Yourself

Take a slow, deep breath.

As you inhale, pray: “God of hope, meet me here.”

As you exhale, release tension and open your heart.

Rest with the Story

Picture Mary—young, vulnerable, courageous—hearing God’s call. She risks everything, even her life, to say “yes.”

Picture John—faithful, fiery, now alone and doubting. He asks his hardest questions, hoping God is still at work.

Both are part of Advent’s story. Both are beloved by God.

Guided Reflection

• Where do you sense a “yes” rising in your own life, even if you can’t see the outcome?

• Where do you find yourself sitting with questions, disappointment, or longing for clarity?

• Can you hold both—the hope of Mary and the honest doubt of John—without rushing to resolve them?

• What does it mean for you to become a God-bearer, letting God’s dream grow in the midst of your ordinary, messy life?

Advent Practice

This week, take a moment each day to:

• Notice where you are being invited to say “yes” — in a conversation, a challenge, a quiet moment.

• Welcome your questions as part of your faith journey, not as failures.

• Light a candle and pray:

God, help me make space for hope,

even in my doubt and in my questions.

May your dream grow in me,

and may I find courage to say yes,

however imperfectly. Amen.