A reflection written by Rev. Michael Gulker, President of The Colossian Forum.
If you’re like me, this time of year has a way of amplifying both joy and sorrow.
Rich Advent longings culminating in Christmas delight shared with loved ones nourishes my soul. And yet, in some of my relationships, I wish things were different. And that grief feels especially heavy during the holiday season.
I asked the team to create a simple printable prayer that would help people like me to process that grief with God. This practice will give you space to name your longings, not with pressure to fix them, but with a posture of honest attentiveness.
👉 Download the prayer practice
Advent is a season of longing. Advent teaches us to wait, not passively, but with expectant anticipation that God is already at work in ways we may not yet see.
We glimpse expectant anticipation in the story of the wise men. Scripture tells us they noticed a star they believed signaled the birth of a king. The wise men did not yet know everything about who Jesus was, but they knew what they were seeking — a king worthy of worship — and they trusted that paying attention to this longing could faithfully guide them. They paused long enough to consider the star, what it meant, what hope it represented, and then they followed it.
My hope is that this prayer practice will lead you to a posture of expectant anticipation. And that, in doing so, you’ll be reminded that even our unresolved longings can become part of how God draws us closer to himself.