Written by Chris Torchia, Pastoral Counseling Associate

Matthew 1:18-21, Isaiah 9:6

The Advent season invites us into a sacred rhythm of reflection, celebration, and anticipation. It is a time to pause and behold—to fix our gaze on the miraculous story of Jesus’ arrival on earth and the hope of His promised return.

In Matthew 1:18-25, we encounter Joseph, a man grappling with a life-altering situation. Mary, his betrothed, is pregnant—and the child is not his own.

Joseph, being a just man, resolved to divorce Mary quietly, seeking to shield her from shame even as he wrestled with his own doubts and heartbreak. But, as he pondered what to do, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream with this divine declaration:

“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” —Matthew 1:20-21

What a moment this must have been! The angel interrupted Joseph’s distress with a command to behold the profound news he came to share—the child in Mary’s womb is none other than God in the flesh, Immanuel! Joseph’s focus shifted from fear and uncertainty to the miracle unfolding before him.

Just as the angel called Joseph to behold the miracle of Christ’s coming, Advent invites us to pause in the midst of life’s questions and struggles and fix our eyes on the Savior who has come to be with us.

The Command and Invitation
“Behold!” It’s more than a suggestion; it’s a command and an invitation. This word calls us to stop, focus, and intently gaze upon something of extraordinary importance. It asks us to shift our attention away from the noise of the world—our endless to-do lists, holiday stress, and even the pain we might carry during this season—and look fully at the wonder of Christ.

For many, the holidays can be marked by weariness and sorrow. They can remind us of broken relationships, loved ones we have lost, or the pain of singleness in a season that seems to glory in the nuclear family. Sometimes, our pain and distress can overshadow the beauty of remembering what God has done for us in sending Jesus into the world.

If this is where you find yourself, perhaps Advent can be a reminder to take a moment to turn your eyes away from your sorrow and onto the beauty of Christ.

The beloved hymn Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus captures this invitation:

“O soul, are you weary and troubled,
no light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
and life more abundant and free.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full in His wonderful face,
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim
in the light of His glory and grace.”

This hymn touches my heart differently this season after losing my mother-in-law to cancer in September. My wife and I are carrying a lot of sorrow into what once was a time of great joy and anticipation as we looked forward to celebrating Christmas with her family.

As I consider what it means to behold the beauty of Christ in the face of this sorrow, I am reminded to look to Him who became a man of sorrows, familiar with grief. In His humanity, Jesus intimately knows our pain. More than that, He has borne our grief and carried our sorrows, even to the point of taking on the curse of our sin through His death on the cross (Isaiah 53:3-6).

Finally, it points me to the future hope of His second coming, where He will redeem all things to Himself, along with all who belong to Him. Beholding Christ in this way doesn’t take away the pain of losing a loved one. However, it reminds me that God is near to my family in our loss and that, by His grace, He will reunite us with my mother-in-law again. Death is not the end.

As we behold the unseen realities of what Christ has done and will do, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus reminds us that the temporal things we hold dear will “grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

An Invitation to Behold
What burdens are you carrying into this Christmas season?

It may be as simple as the busyness of a full event calendar or the added financial stress of the holidays. Or perhaps it is a more significant burden of relational pain, loneliness, or grief.

I’m reminded of the old saying: “For every one look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ.” With whatever might be preoccupying your time and attention, consider what it might look like to take a few more looks at Jesus in this season of Advent. Let His glory and grace quiet your heart and renew your hope.

For in the light of His glory, we find the strength to wait, the courage to hope, and the joy to proclaim:

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” —Isaiah 9:6