Warm‑up: When you think about the holidays, do they feel more exciting, exhausting, or a little bit of both right now? Why?
Darkness Check‑In: Without sharing details you’re not ready to share, what’s one area of life that feels a little “dark” or heavy this season?
Look Up: Where have you maybe stopped expecting God to show up? What would it look like, practically, for you to "look up" again this week?
Loosen Your Grip: What’s one thing you’re trying hard to control right now (a situation, a person, an outcome)? What might it look like to open your hands and invite Jesus into that instead?
Lean In: When life feels stuck, is your tendency to drift away from God or press in closer? What’s one simple way you could “lean in” over the next 7 days?
Real Life Practice: If you could ask Jesus to do one specific thing in your life between now and Christmas, what would you ask Him to do?
Deeper Dive Questions
Naming the Darkness: When you heard Isaiah talk about people “walking in darkness,” what part of that language resonates with your story right now?
Spiritual Flatness: Have you ever gone through a season where you were doing all the “right” spiritual things but felt emotionally or spiritually flat? What was that like for you?
Wonder vs. Numbness: What are some signs in your own life that you’re losing your sense of wonder with Jesus? What helps wake that wonder back up?
Control and Peace: Where do you notice the tug‑of‑war between wanting control and wanting peace? Can you think of a time when surrender actually led to more peace for you?
Already / Not Yet: How do you personally live in the tension of God’s promises being “already, but not yet”? Is there a promise you’re holding onto right now that you haven’t seen fully yet?
Community in the Dark: When you’re in a dark season, do you tend to isolate or reach out? What makes it hard to let other people into your struggle?
God’s Timing: Looking back, is there a time where God’s timing frustrated you in the moment but made sense later? What did you learn about Him (and about yourself) in that season?
Leaning In vs. Drifting: What does “leaning in” to Jesus actually look like in your weekly rhythm (not just in theory)? What’s one small practice that helps you stay close when you’d rather drift?
Jesus as Prince of Peace: When you hear Jesus called “Prince of Peace,” what pictures, memories, or hopes come to mind? Where do you most need His peace to show up this Advent?
Hope for the Future: If you really believed Jesus is preparing your future and working in your waiting, how might that change the way you approach this week?
