Embracing the Sacred Pause: Rich Villodas Invites Us to ‘Wait on Jesus’ This Advent
In a culture that venerates speed and instant gratification, the very notion of waiting can feel like a personal failing. Yet, in his profound new book, Waiting on Jesus, bestselling author and pastor Rich Villodas reframes this seasonal hurry not as a burden, but as a sacred, transformative practice at the very heart of the Christmas story. Through twenty-five timely devotionals, Villodas masterfully guides readers away from the frenzy of December and into a intentional space of anticipation, exploring how the ancient discipline of waiting is designed to reshape our hearts, expose our self-reliance, and reorient our deepest hopes toward the coming Christ.
In a candid interview, Villodas doesn’t romanticize the journey. “Very painfully,” he admits when asked how one walks through the waiting experience. “Waiting is often fraught with challenge and complexity, reminding us ultimately of our dependence upon God, the one who comes.” This, he suggests, is the beautiful, counter-cultural gift of Advent. Waiting simultaneously humbles us by revealing our deficiencies and sanctifies us by cultivating a deeper reliance on divine timing. Waiting on Jesus is more than a devotional; it is an invitation to experience Christmas not as a destination to be reached, but as a patient, expectant pilgrimage that prepares the soul to truly receive the gift of Emmanuel.
