Comfort Before The Manger - Day 19

Comfort arrives before the crib ever does. We open Isaiah 40:1–5 and find God’s first word to a weary world: comfort. From there, we trace the highway imagery through the wilderness, valleys raised, mountains lowered and see how this ancient promise becomes a practical guide for the Advent season. 

I share why preparation is not performance but consent to God’s work. If your heart feels like a wilderness, this reflection offers a steady path toward hope. Subscribe to follow the full Christmas devotional series, share this episode with someone who needs peace, and leave a review to help more listeners find encouragement this season.

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Podcast Music by: prazkhanal
Song: Whip

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome And Advent Series Context
• 0:46 Reading Isaiah 40:1–5
• 1:37 Comfort As God’s First Word
• 2:54 Preparing The Way And John The Baptist
• 3:34 God Levels Obstacles To His Presence
• 4:15 Glory Revealed In Humility
• 4:35 Prayer And Closing Invitation

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:00

Hello, hello. This is Jesse Morgan Devotions for the Christian Heart Podcast. Welcome, welcome. This year I'm bringing my 25-day Christmas devotional to life in a new way. Beginning on day 11 through day 25, each devotional entry now has a matching mini podcast episode, a simple 8 to 10 minute reflection designed to help you slow down and truly sit with the story of Jesus' birth. Each episode clearly follows the same day as the written devotional, so day 11 in the book is day 11 on the podcast and so forth. My hope is that these daily audio reflections make the journey to Christmas feel even more personal, peaceful, and meaningful. Thank you for being here. Let's go. Preparing the way for Jesus, episode 86, day 19, key passage, Isaiah 40, 1 through 5. And it says, Comfort, comfort my people, says your God, speak tenderly to Jerusalem and proclaim to her that her hand her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling in the wilderness prepare, the way for the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low, the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places is a plain, and the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all the people will see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Today I want to spend a few minutes in Isaiah forty, a passage written hundreds of years before Jesus was born, yet one that speaks so clearly into the moment of his arrival. It begins with the words, Comfort, comfort, my people, says your Lord. That tells us something important, because God brings a Savior into the world, he speaks comfort. Before the miracle of Bethlehem, before the manger, before the angels and the shepherds, God reassures his people here. This was spoken to Israel during a season of exile and discipline. And when they felt forgotten, and God yet says, I love I see you, I haven't left you. Isn't that so fitting, the birth of Jesus? Jesus didn't come in a world that had it all together. He came in a world that was very weary, broken, and desperate for help and hope. The birth of Christ is God's ultimate comfort to humanity, I feel. Isaiah goes on to say in in this passage that people's hard service has been completed and their sin has been paid for. That doesn't mean the people earned forgiveness. It means God was already pointing towards grace. Even before Jesus was born, God was declaring that restoration was coming. Then in verse 3 of Isaiah 40, it says, a voice of one calling the calling in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord. We often associate this with John the Baptist. Because if it you continue reading into the Gospels, John the Baptist lived in the wilderness. And honestly, this is rightfully so that it was associated that this verse was associated with it. But long before John stood in the wilderness, Isaiah was reminding us that God always prepares hearts before he sends the deliverer or the deliverance. Before Jesus entered the world, God was already aligning history, prophecy, and purpose. Preparation does matter. The birth of Jesus wasn't rushed, it was intentional. And Isaiah paints this beautiful picture of valleys being raised and mountains being made low. Spiritually speaking, this tells us something really, really powerful. God levels what stands in the way of his presence. The low places of despair, fear, and shame are lifted. The high places of pride and self-sufficiency are brought down. That's exactly what Jesus does when he enters our lives. He levels everything out. And then Isaiah ends with this promise The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all the people will see it together. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, God's glory wasn't hidden in a palace. It was revealed in humility, in the birth. Shepherds saw it, wise men traveled for it, heaven itself announced it. The glory of God entered entered the world in human form, so that all the people could see him, know him, and be saved. Isaiah 40 reminds us that the birth of Jesus wasn't just a moment in history, it was the fulfillment of God's promise to comfort, restore, and to dwell amongst his people. So as we reflect on the birth of Christ, may we remember this. God still prepares the way, God still brings comfort, and God still reveals his glory, often in the most unexpected places. Let's pray. Lord, thank you for sending Jesus as our comfort and our hope. Help us to prepare our hearts to receive you fully. Level anything within us that stands in the way of your presence. We praise you for keeping your promises and revealing your glory through Jesus Christ. Father, we love you and we praise you in Jesus' name. Amen. Love you all. Till next time. Thank you for listening. This episode is part of my Christmas devotional series inspired by my written devotional, 25 Days Till Christmas, a scripture-filled journey preparing our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus. I invite you to read along and reflect on his story in a deeper way. Details in the show notes for the written devotional. And it also says in Scripture, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill towards men. Luke 2.14. And don't miss the next reflection in this Christmas series by subscribing to the podcast to continue walking through God's Word this season. And a little bit about me. I'm Jesse Morgan, wife, mom, and devotional writer and podcaster who loves sharing biblical encouragement and the hope we find in Jesus. Till next time, Jesse Morgan signing off.