For most of us, the Christian life feels anything but easy. We white-knuckle our way through temptations, beat ourselves up over repeated failures, and secretly wonder if we're really saved at all. The disconnect between Jesus's promise and our experience isn't because Jesus was wrong—it's because we've misunderstood what spiritual growth actually is.
Advent is one of the oldest and most meaningful seasons in the Christian calendar, yet it is often overlooked or misunderstood in modern life. In the midst of holiday busyness, Advent invites the Church to slow down, wait, and prepare—not just for Christmas, but for Christ Himself.
When many people think of Christmas, they think of a single day. Yet for much of church history, Christmas has been celebrated not as a moment, but as a season—a sacred time known as Christmastide. Understanding its history helps us appreciate why the Church continues to celebrate long after December 25.
