What if waiting wasn’t something to get through, but an opportunity to grow closer to God?
In a season often filled with activity, expectations, and endless preparations, Advent invites us to slow down, pay attention, and make room for the presence of Christ.
The Spiritual Life Development Department is pleased to introduce Waiting Well: The Passage of Advent, a devotional resource for December 1–25, available in both English and Spanish.
Throughout Scripture, we find God’s people waiting. They waited for promises to be fulfilled, for deliverance to come, and ultimately for the arrival of the promised Messiah. Today, we continue to wait—not only as we remember Christ’s coming into the world, but also as we experience His presence through the Holy Spirit and look forward to His promised return.
Waiting Well invites us to see waiting with fresh eyes. Rather than viewing it as wasted or unproductive time, we are encouraged to recognize it as an opportunity to slow down and draw nearer to God. What God does in us while we wait can be far more important than what we are waiting for.
Each day’s devotional includes a Scripture passage, a reflection, a practical invitation entitled “While You Wait,” and a closing prayer. Together, these daily readings explore themes such as patience, hope, trust, spiritual growth, community, and the anticipation of Christ’s return.
Whether you use the devotional during your personal quiet time, share it with your family, incorporate it into a small group, or make it part of your corps’ Advent activities, we pray that Waiting Well will help you experience this season with a renewed sense of expectation and purpose.
How to Access Waiting Well
This year, the Spiritual Life Development Department is making Waiting Well available in several formats so that individuals and corps can choose what works best for them.
- YouVersion Bible App: Follow along with the devotional through the YouVersion app. (In the app, at the bottom of your screen click on PLANS, then in the top right hit the magnifying glass to reach for either “Salvation Army” for a list of our resources or “Waiting Well” and the icon from the cover of the booklet)
- Digital Booklet: Download the PDF to read on your computer, tablet, or phone. (The link is below)
- E-Reader: Save the digital version to your Kindle or other preferred e-reader.
- Printed Booklet: Download the booklet and have copies printed locally for personal or corps use. (Links to various versions are below, in both English and Spanish. We also have a greyscale version of both books, without a cover, if you’re just going to print the booklets at your Corps) NOTE: if sending the booklet to an outside print shop, make sure to mention that the booklet was built on Tabloid paper and has crop marks for cutting. It should be printed double-sided, saddle stapled and cut.
- Social Media: Follow the USAEastSLD Facebook page for weekly devotional reflections and encouragement throughout December.
All access links and resources are available below.
An Invitation to Wait Well
As we journey toward Christmas, may we resist the temptation to fill every moment with activity and instead discover the gift of being still in God’s presence.
May this Advent be more than a countdown to Christmas. May it be a season of deeper faith and a growing awareness of Emmanuel—God with us.
God’s richest blessings as you journey through Advent and learn to wait well.
