Advent Devotional by Becky Gossett

Hebrews 10:32-39

You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. (Hebrews 10:34-35, NIV)

It was November 2015, and I was struggling to complete an important research project for my graduate class. There were many demands on me professionally. I was holding it together (?) as a mom and wife. And then, my mother passed away suddenly. Six weeks later, my father passed away following a long illness. Life seemed unfamiliar and strange. In the middle of it all, there was Christmas. It was a sadly memorable winter.

The author of Hebrews reminds the people about the times of suffering and the joy they experienced, and how they had supported one another through it, knowing there was something special ahead. They could “stick it out and stay with God’s plan” (verse 39, The Message) to completion. Within them, they had what they needed. They could persevere.

Suffering and joy, together. During my most challenging winter, I experienced suffering and joy in new ways with the support of friends and family who stood by me and my siblings. The grace, kindness, encouragement, and pure love helped me find strength. That particular Christmas wasn’t about the things our family had come to know in other years-- presents, meals, music, and parties, but we had persevered. There was suffering… BUT there was also, and always can be, joy. We find it within, and often with the help of those who surround us.

Becky Gossett