You can find hope, peace, joy, and love in Advent

As December approaches, it’s easy to get swept up in the Christmas rush - the, gift lists, and everything that comes with this busy season. But the season of Advent is really about preparing for an arrival - specifically the arrival of Jesus.

This theme of arrival is all around us. When I was awaiting the fast-approaching arrival of my daughter, my husband and I had this incredible sense of anticipation, preparation, and joy surrounding the upcoming birth of our child. The cot was built, car seat fitted, schedules were shifted - everything began to revolve around welcoming this new life into our world and Advent invites us to experience something similar, to prepare ourselves and shift our focus to welcome Jesus.

Advent also unfolds around four central themes: hope, peace, joy, and love.

Advent also unfolds around four central themes: hope, peace, joy, and love. These aren’t just nice ideas; they’re anchors we need in our everyday lives. And each year, as I slow down and reflect on these themes, I find fresh meaning that impacts me long after the Christmas season.

We start Advent with hope. Think of this hope as an anchor - something deep and steady that’s not based on our circumstances but on who God is. When I think about hope, I’m reminded of the years where my husband and I longed and prayed for a baby. We held onto God’s promises, especially in moments of waiting, uncertainty and disappointment. Advent reminds me that hope isn’t just positive thinking; it’s an assurance that God is faithful, even in seasons when we can’t see the outcome. This season, we’re invited to tap into that same unshakeable hope, anchoring ourselves in the truth that God is with us.

The second week of Advent focuses on peace, which is something we all crave but often find elusive. We live in a world that glorifies busyness, but peace calls us to let go of the pressure and slow down. Jesus, our Prince of Peace, brings a calm that goes deeper than any “quiet moment” or a day without a full schedule.

When I choose to make room for peace during Advent, I find that everything else starts to come into perspective.

When I choose to make room for peace during Advent, I find that everything else starts to come into perspective. A few years ago, I intentionally cleared my calendar of a few events during Advent. Saying “no” (as hard as it was!). I created space that allowed me to connect with what matters most. It was a reminder that peace isn’t something we wait to “feel”; it’s something we create space for.

Advent’s third week brings us to joy. Now, joy isn’t always easy - especially when things aren’t going according to plan. We often think joy is something that comes naturally with the season, but it’s deeper than that. Joy is rooted in knowing that God is with us, regardless of circumstances.

Last Advent season, my family and I were going through a really difficult time; we knew with almost certainty that it would be my mother’s last Christmas with us here on earth. In the build up to Christmas last year, joy was the last thing I felt, but I made a decision to focus on small moments of gratitude and poured my energies into making it a wonderful final Christmas for my mum and our family. Sure enough, I found that joy creeped back in and precious memories were made! Advent reminds us that real joy doesn’t depend on everything being perfect; it’s about seeing God’s goodness in the midst of everything else and being thankful for our blessings.

As we approach Christmas, Advent closes with the theme of love. At the core of Christmas is God’s incredible love. In a world that sometimes overvalues material gifts, Advent reminds me to focus on the gift of presence. Real love is found in the intentional ways we show up for the people around us.

Advent isn’t about ticking boxes on a list or adding another tradition to our calendars. It’s an invitation to slow down and let God prepare our hearts. When we let hope, peace, joy, and love guide us through this season, Advent becomes more than a Christmas countdown - it becomes a path to a richer, more grounded life.

I pray that we will all slow down this Advent season and make room for what God wants to do in us.

So if you’re feeling a desire to prepare your heart this festive season, I’d love for you to join me in daily Advent reflections starting 1st December.

I’ll be sharing a daily scripture on Instagram with a reflection and an encouragement around these themes as we prepare for Christmas with hearts truly ready to welcome Christ.