The Winter Wait

by Rebecca Barton

As days shorten and the world outside hushes to cold stillness, we find ourselves in the season of Advent. But for those of us juggling sermon prep, counseling, family, and the constant demands of ministry, it often feels more like a demanding sprint than a holy wait for Emmanuel.

Here amid the chatter of endless texts, reels, and tasks, we can be overwhelmed by the noisiness of humanity, but in order to hear from a heavenly perspective, we need to practice the discipline of solitude. Let's find a quiet, reflective space and turn our hearts to a young woman who knew all about the demands of a life-altering call of God.

Imagine the scene of the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38). Mary is planning a future that adheres to the established norms of her faith and culture. Then Gabriel appears:

“Rejoice, highly favored one! The Lord is with you…” (Luke 1:28 NKJV)

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Mary's response to this uncomfortable intrusion isn't immediate rejoicing; it's perplexity and trouble
(v. 29). She was, quite naturally, shaken by the scale and nature of this divine disruption. Being thus favored wasn't a ticket to an easy life; it was a path to a profoundly difficult one.

As women in ministry, can we not relate? God’s call on our lives often comes as an interruption to the life WE planned. It demands a sacrifice of comfort, privacy, and sometimes, even acceptance from those we love. When the favor of God delivers a weighty, prophetic assignment, it’s okay to be troubled. It is a sign that we understand the gravity of what is being asked of us.

The angelic message seemed like a holy impossibility: she would conceive the Son of God. This is where Mary, like a good theologian, asks the practical, crucial question: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34 NASB)

Gabriel’s answer testifies to Pentecostal faith and empowerment for ministry: “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35 NIV)

Mary’s miraculous pregnancy, which established the full deity and humanity of Christ, was not achieved through human strength or will. It was conceived through the direct, dynamic agency of the Holy Spirit!
This is our lifeblood! We are called to tasks that are holy impossibilities—to raise the dead in spirit, to heal broken hearts, to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. How can we do it? Not by degrees and credentials, organizational skills, or a tireless work ethic, but because the same Spirit that overshadowed Mary is the one who empowers us (Acts 1:8). The power is His, not ours.

Mary offers one of the most poignant, humble, and powerful acts of surrender in Scripture. She moves from perplexity to acceptance, from question to consecration: “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38 NIV)

This is the moment she accepts the shame, the potential scorn, the physical burden, and the total upheaval of her life. She accepts the call not just to bear the Christ, but to carry Him, to nurture Him, and to release Him to a world languishing in darkness–longing to see the Great Light.

The winter wait of Advent mirrors the nine months Mary carried Jesus. It was a time of hidden growth, quiet faith, and immense discomfort. What “holy impossibility” is God asking you to carry right now? Is it a painful ministry assignment? A period of growth that feels like pressure? A message that requires vulnerability? Remember that you are not carrying it alone. The same Spirit who overshadowed Mary indwells you. Depend on His power instead of your own strength; rely on His wisdom instead of your own understanding. Re-affirm your “Yes!” to His call. Let this winter season be a time of re-consecration. When you choose to embrace the unexpected and uncomfortable favor of God, trusting Him to fulfill His word in and through you, you are privileged with the abiding and reassuring blessing of His presence. Take heart, beloved. You are highly favored, and the Lord is with you! Let the power of the Spirit overshadow you today, and may the Christ you carry shine brightly through the winter darkness.

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Raised in a minister’s home, Rebecca was called into ministry at an early age. An Evangel University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in English Education/Spanish, she has been a teacher, piano tutor, worship leader, and bookkeeper. She currently serves with her husband, Scott, as lead pastors of Eldon First AG. They have been married over 36 years. Besides being a pastor’s wife, Rebecca serves as the Publishing Team Leader for Refresh Ministry Women. Her interests include singing, playing keyboards, reading, genealogy, gardening, foraging, and crafting. However, her favorite activity is keeping up with her 3 adult kids, their spouses, and 4 active grandchildren. 

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