The Prophetic Hope of Advent: Waiting in the Dark

In this episode of Awaken to Grace, hosts Brian Myers, Rev. Jenn Stiles Williams, and Derrick Scott III kick off the Advent season with a conversation about hope. They explore Advent as a time of waiting, expectation, and preparation for Christ's coming, discussing how it invites honest reflection about the brokenness in our world while resisting cynicism through gospel-centered hope. Drawing on Romans 13 and Charles Wesley's hymn "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus," they emphasize the communal nature of hope—how we can share and borrow each other's hope when our own runs low—and conclude by discussing the symbolism of lighting the first Advent candle as piercing darkness with light. For more on the year-long Awakened to Grace series, check out awakenedtograce.org. Original music by the Institute for Modern Worship. Produced by Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley.