Advent Journey: Edge God Into the Hustle
Advent Journey: Edge God Into the Hustle
Advent invites us into a sacred pause—a spiritual exhale in the midst of cultural chaos. Yet, for many of us, the weeks leading up to Christmas become thebusiesttime of the year. Shopping, planning, gatherings, deadlines, and expectations swirl together, creating a relentless hustle that pulls our attention away from the One who is at the center of this season.
But God speaks into the frenzy with a simple, powerful reminder:
“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10
Stillness is not merely the absence of noise; it is the presence of awareness—an intentional returning to God.
The Strength Found in Silence
We see the power of silence woven throughout Scripture. When Zechariah doubted the angel’s message about his son’s birth, he was silenced until John the Baptist entered the world (Luke 1). In that divinely orchestrated silence, Zechariah’s faith was strengthened, his heart recalibrated, and his awe restored. By the time his tongue was loosened, praise—not doubt—poured out of him.
Jesus Himself modeled this rhythm. Repeatedly throughout the Gospels, He withdrew from the crowds, the noise, the demands, and the pressures to pray—often early in the morning or in solitary places (Luke 5:16; Mark 1:35; Matthew 14:23). In the silence, He received strength, clarity, connection, and peace.
Advent invites us to do the same.
Invite the Holy Spirit Into Your Time This Advent
Instead of letting the hustle become your master,invite the Holy Spirit into your choices each day. Let Him shape how you spend your time, how you move through your responsibilities, and how you embrace what matters most.
Createmini-retreats.Simple, intentional pauses:
- Three deep breaths before you get out of the car
- Five minutes of silence with your coffee
- A quiet walk without your phone
- A candle-lit moment of prayer in the evening
These small acts create space in your heart—a disposition of openness—to receive the peace of God into the demands that surround you. This is how you Edge God Into the Hustle.
The Hustle Is Fueled by Disordered Desires
At the root of our frantic striving are disordered desires—good longings twisted by fear, insecurity, or unmet needs. This Advent, we will focus on four areas that commonly fuel anxiety and hustle:
- Popularity: The longing to be seen and to matter
The desire to be known is God-given, but when we chase validation outside ourselves—through FOMO, people-pleasing, or constant visibility—we give the world power to define our worth.
Yet,your identity is rooted in God alone. Saying yes to everything dilutes your soul.
- Passion: Cravings and addictions that pull us into escapism
Whether it’s substances, screens, habits, or emotional highs, disordered desires for pleasure become escape routes from discomfort. They promise relief but deliver emptiness.
- Possessions: The restless pursuit of acquiring and protecting
Attachments lead us into cycles of pursuit, attainment, and anxiety about loss. The more we own, the more often what we own begins to own us. We chase “more” instead of resting in “enough.”
- Position: The striving for status, achievement, and recognition
Climbing becomes compulsive when we believe our worth is tied to our success. This creates an exhausting hustle fueled by comparison and fear.
Each of these desires pulls us away from the love of God, self, and others. They stand in direct opposition to one of God’s clearest commandments:
“You shall have no other gods before me.” — Exodus 20:3
Why does He emphasize this?
Because anything you put before God will ultimately distract, deplete, and distance you from the love your heart truly longs for.
The hustle doesn’t just exhaust the mind—it createsstress in the body. Stress is thepower we give to external circumstances to define our worth, value, and what we believe we can handle successfully. When we let the world dictate our pace, our identity, and our priorities, our nervous system responds with tension, anxiety, fatigue, and overwhelm.
But Advent offers us another way. As we intentionally return to the love of God, we begin toreorder the disorderinside of us. We shift from livingoutside in—reacting to pressures, expectations, and demands—to livinginside out, rooted in the unshakeable love and truth of God. This inner reorientation brings peace to our bodies, clarity to our minds, and rest to our souls.
Our Hearts’ True Desire Has Always Been God
At the core of every disordered desire is a misplaced attempt to fill a God-shaped space. Our hearts have always longed for communion with Him. This is why the hustle feels so empty—it’s fueled by desires that can never satisfy.
Advent gently calls us back to the manger—the place of simplicity, humility, and pure love. It calls us to return to the heart of the gospel:
“For God so lovedyouthat He gave His one and only Son…” — John 3:16
This is the cure for the hustle:
Returning to the love God has for you.
Where Is This Love Found? In Stillness.
It is found in the space between your thoughts—
in the quiet moments when you stop grasping for the world
and simply turn your face toward God.
God is in the stillness.
He met Zechariah in silence.
He met Moses on the mountain.
He met Jesus in solitude.
And He will meet you too.
When you intentionally carve out stillness, you create room for encounters with the Holy Spirit—moments of clarity, peace, and renewal.
This Advent: Pursue the Still, Small Voice
This season, don’t let the hustle become your master.
Return to the simple, sacred rhythm of silence.
Seek the quiet manger moments in your day.
Let your heart experience theSilent Nightwithin.
Edge God Into the Hustle—and discover the peace your soul has been craving all along.
Advent Action Step
Choose one 5-minute mini-retreat each day this week.
Set a timer, step away from the noise, breathe deeply, and simply pray:
“Holy Spirit, edge into my hustle. Fill this space with Your peace.”
Protect this small window of stillness as a sacred appointment with God—and let Him meet you there.
Action Step:
Listen to the Edge God In Podcast:Advent Journey: Edge God Into the Hustle
