Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Imagine this: You're living in ancient Israel and everything feels like it's falling apart. Political chaos. Spiritual confusion. Enemies at your doorstep. It's into this mess that a prophet named Isaiah steps forward with something that must have seemed almost too good to be true. He opens his mouth and speaks words that would echo through history for the next seven centuries.
Isaiah chapter 9, verse 6 says, "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
The Promise That Endured
When Isaiah spoke these words, he was giving voice to a promise that wouldn't be fulfilled for another 700 years. That's not just a long time—it's a lifetime. In fact, several lifetimes. In our instant gratification culture, we get frustrated waiting for a two-day Amazon delivery. Imagine generations living and dying while clinging to this promise. Imagine waiting, century after century, holding on to a prophecy spoken in a time of political unrest, spiritual confusion, and national fear. Does that sound familiar?
Yet Isaiah's words endured. They were repeated, memorized, and passed down like a sacred thread woven through the fabric of Israel's history. Isaiah didn't just say a child would be born. He described who that child would be. He gave names that carried weight, names that revealed the heart of God and the mission of the Messiah.
Names That Reveal
He would be called Wonderful Counselor—not just wise, but intimately understanding. This is the kind of counselor who doesn't just give advice but knows your story, your pain, your questions. He walks with you through confusion and speaks peace into your chaos.
He would be Mighty God—not distant, not detached, but powerful and present. This child would be God Himself, stepping into human history with strength to save and authority to reign. For those who felt powerless, this name was a lifeline.
He would be Everlasting Father—a protector, a provider, a constant presence in a world where leaders came and went and families were broken. This name promised a love that would never fade, a relationship that would never be severed.
And He would be Prince of Peace—not just a peacemaker, but the very source of peace. In the middle of war, division, and personal turmoil, this child would bring restoration, wholeness, and calm to every storm.
These weren't just poetic titles. They were declarations of identity and purpose. And for 700 years, people waited. They waited through silence, through exile, through rebuilding, through longing. And then, in the stillness of a Bethlehem night, the promise arrived—not with royal fanfare, but with the cry of a newborn baby.
The Sacred Art of Waiting
As we sit in the quiet of Advent, let's think about the weight of waiting and the wonder of fulfillment. What promises are we holding on to today? Like those who waited for centuries before us, we too have to learn the sacred art of holding tight to God's promises, even when we can't see their fulfillment yet. Sometimes keeping hope alive means choosing to trust in the dark, believing that what God has spoken will come to pass in His perfect timing.
Let's not rush past the waiting, but lean into it, knowing that God is faithful and His timing is always perfect. Let's get to know who Jesus truly is, not just in title, but in relationship. The same God who fulfilled His word after 700 years is still speaking, still moving, and still present.
What names of Jesus speak most to you right now in this season of your life? Let's listen, trust, and make room in our hearts for the One who will always remain our future hope.
