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As we enter the holy season of Advent, we are invited to wait, not in silence or despair, but in praise and hope. Psalm 145 reminds us that even in the waiting, God is near, gracious, compassionate, and faithful. King David’s song of praise lifts our eyes from fear to faith, from weariness to wonder. Each generation, he says, “commends God’s works to another.” We, too, share the story: that the same Lord who opened His hand to feed the hungry, who lifted the fallen, and who came to us in the humble birth of Jesus, is still near to all who call on Him in truth. This Advent, let us wait with hearts full of love. Let us praise the Lord who upholds the broken, comforts the weary, and satisfies the longing of every soul. May our waiting be active, filled with compassion, kindness, and songs of joy. For the Lord is good to all, and His kingdom is everlasting SERMON: Waiting With Praise Dear beloved, Advent is a sacred season of waiting, but not a wasted time. As we wait for Christ, we live in praise and compassion, trusting the God who is gracious, near, and faithful. Advent is waiting with anticipation, with hearts turned toward heaven. Think of a mother waiting for her child to be born; every moment is filled with anticipation and joy, with love and longing. That is Advent. We are the people who wait for Christ with love. Psalm 145 begins with a song: “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name forever and ever.” David was not filled with complaint or worry; he was filled with praise. And praise in our lives changes everything. When we praise God, the walls of despair begin to crack. When we praise God, light begins to break through our night. Advent praise is not a denial of pain or problems, but a declaration that God is greater than our pain or problems. When we praise our Lord, we lift our eyes. “I will exalt you, my God the King.” Dear beloved, we are far from perfect, but we still have the privilege to lift our eyes to the throne of God. Today, for many reasons, you might be overwhelmed—maybe by bad news, loneliness, or loss. But here and now God invites you to lift your eyes higher. I once visited a person who was battling cancer. The person told me, “Reverend, these days I can’t do much, but every morning I start my day by saying, ‘Thank you, Lord, for another sunrise.’” This person's body was weak, but their spirit was radiant. They said, “I have a secret. When I praise, I forget my pain for a moment. I feel close to Him.” Dear beloved, that is the miracle of praise. It doesn’t erase our problems, but it changes our perspective. In verse 4 we read, “One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.” Dear beloved, Advent is the season to tell the story again—parents to children, elders to youth, church to community. Soon we will sing: Tell them over again to me, wonderful love of God. Tell those you love that the same God who brought Israel through the Red Sea is the God who brought salvation to Bethlehem, and the same God who brings hope to Kitchener, to your family and my family today. As we wait, we also reflect on the character of our God. Scripture says, “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” This is one of the most tender portraits of God in Scripture. Have you had moments when you prayed for something, but you had a bad feeling that God was not listening, and you grew impatient? Then perhaps you thought you were unworthy or unloved. Please listen to this: when you feel impatient in your waiting, God is patient with you. When you feel unworthy, God is gracious. When you feel unloved, God whispers, “I am rich in love and you are dearly loved.” Some of you have experienced such pressure, loss, and pain that you wondered if God was far away, or if God no longer loved you. I want to tell you something—please listen and look into my eyes: you are exactly the kind of person Jesus came for. This is why we celebrate Advent: because God came for the lost, for the broken, for you. Do not give up. Christ is nearby. There is still hope for you and for me. We can lose everything—careers, jobs, health, money—but the love of Christ remains. And when the world feels dark, look up and remember: the Kingdom we await is everlasting. During Advent, we wait for the Lord who lifts up the broken. “The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.” Have you ever felt bowed down—burdened by grief, or worry, or regret? Our Lord Jesus Christ never passed the fallen; He always stopped and lifted them up. There is a story about a young refugee mother who had walked for days carrying her baby to escape war and communist dictatorship. She hid during the day and walked through dark nights. When she arrived in Austria, she had nothing left, not even shoes. But when help was offered, she whispered, “God has not forgotten me.” Dear beloved, this is the heartbeat of Advent: God never forgets us. Even in the worst situations, please remember that God never forgets us. We read in Psalm 145:15, “The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.” This verse reminds me of a little boy who once prayed before supper: “Dear God, thank You for this food. And please bless the people who don’t have any. Maybe tomorrow you could use me to help them.” This is the Advent spirit. We do not simply wait for Jesus—we become His hands to feed, lift, and love others. When we open our hands in compassion for our sisters and brothers who are suffering in Cuba or Jamaica, we reflect the God who opens His hand to satisfy every living thing. Advent also means God is near. “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” Advent is the story of nearness. At Christmas, after a long Advent, the infinite God came close—so close that He took on flesh, entered a manger, and lived among us. You may not feel close to God this season; perhaps grief or guilt has made Him seem distant. But Scripture says, “The Lord is near”—not “will be,” but is near. I once read about a soldier who prayed during war. He told his chaplain, “Chaplain, I don’t know if God is real, but when I was in that foxhole, I felt someone beside me.” The chaplain smiled and said, “That’s Emmanuel—God with us.” We know the Lord hears the cry of those who fear Him; He saves them. Even in your darkest night, when you think your prayers disappear into the air, God bends down to listen. Advent whispers into our waiting hearts: you are not alone. Because God is near, we should sing a joyful and endless song. Verse 21 says, “My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise His holy name forever and ever.” One day, every tear will be wiped away, and all creation will sing, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!” Until that day, we keep singing—not because life is easy, but because God is faithful. When we sing carols in church or whisper prayers in our homes, we are joining the eternal song. And every note of praise brings light into someone else’s darkness. Dear beloved, Advent is more than a countdown to Christmas. It is a call to love while we wait. When we light the candle of hope, we remember those who have lost theirs. When we light the candle of peace, we forgive someone we’ve been avoiding. When we light the candle of joy, we share a meal with someone who feels forgotten. When we light the candle of love, we open our hearts wide enough for God to dwell there. Psalm 145 should be your Advent song, reminding you that when you fall, He will lift you up; when you hunger, He will open His hand; when you call, He will draw near; and when you wait, He will come. During this Advent, please wait not with worry, but with worship; not with fear, but with faith; not with closed hearts, but with open hands. Waiting in love is how we prepare for the One who is Love Himself, Christ Jesus our Lord. “My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise His holy name forever and ever.” Amen. Hymns for the week:
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