The second week of Advent focuses on Peace, and for those experiencing an empty nest, this theme takes on extra significance. When the house becomes silent, that quietness can feel unsettling. The routines that once gave your life structure—such as school schedules, shared meals, and family noise—have changed. What once felt peaceful might now feel like loss, and what once brought rest can seem like unfamiliar stillness.

But Advent teaches…

Exodus 7–12 depicts a tense showdown between the God of Israel and the gods of Egypt. Through ten escalating plagues, God demonstrates His absolute authority over creation, Pharaoh’s will, and false idols. Each plague targets a specific area Egypt believed it controlled—water, crops, animals, health, light, and life itself.

 Pharaoh’s stubborn heart reveals humanity’s resistance to God’s sovereignty, but God uses that resistance to magnify His glory. The final plague—the death of the firstborn—leads to the Passover, where the blood of the lamb shields Israel from judgment. Deliverance finally comes not through Moses’s effort, but through God’s power and promise.

Advent begins with Hope—a light rising in the middle of uncertainty. For many empty nesters, this season mirrors Israel’s waiting. Life feels different now. The home is quieter. Traditions are evolving. The rhythm of daily life has changed, and sometimes the transition feels unfamiliar.

Exodus 4–6 traces Moses’ continued resistance to his calling and God’s unwavering patience in equipping him for the task. Moses fears rejection, questions his speech, and even asks God to send someone else. In response, God appoints Aaron as his spokesman and gives signs to confirm His power. Yet even after obedience, Moses faces Pharaoh’s hard heart, Israel’s disappointment, and his own discouragement. God’s message remains constant: “I am the LORD.” His identity and promises—not human success—guarantee the outcome.

When things worsen before they improve, God reminds Moses that deliverance is a process. Redemption takes shape in steps—through obedience, persistence, and trust in the One who has spoken.

Every November, when National Adoption Month comes around, something deep within me stirs. Maybe it’s the memories that rise to the surface… maybe it’s gratitude… or maybe it’s simply the reminder that God weaves families together in ways we could never orchestrate on our own.

Whatever the reason, this month always makes me pause.

Because adoption isn’t just a legal moment—it’s a lifelong journey of love, surrender, courage, and refinement. And for many of us stepping into midlife or the empty nest years, this month brings up emotions we didn’t expect.

The Quiet Emotions Adoptive Parents Carry Into Midlife

Adoption is beautiful—yes. But let’s not sugarcoat it. Adoption is also complicated, stretching, refining, sanctifying, and sometimes heartbreaking.

The older we get, the more tender certain realities become:

• The years feel shorter.

• The questions feel heavier.

• The desire for connection grows deeper.

• And if there’s distance—especially with an adult child or their spouse—it stings in a way words can’t quite touch.

Behind every adoption story are layers of joy, loss, hope, and healing. And if you’ve ever felt unseen or unsure in your journey, hear this clearly:

You’re not alone, and you’re not failing. God sees what others don’t.

Exodus 3:11–22 illustrates Moses’ hesitation when God calls him to lead Israel out of Egypt. Moses questions his own worthiness and authority, asking, “Who am I?” God replies, “I will be with you,” emphasizing that Moses’ mission is grounded in divine presence, not human strength.

When Moses asks for God’s name, the Lord reveals Himself as “I AM WHO I AM” (Yahweh)—the eternal, self-existent One who keeps covenant promises. God assures Moses that He has seen His people’s suffering, will demonstrate His power through signs and wonders, and will bring Israel into a land flowing with milk and honey. Even Pharaoh’s resistance will serve God’s purpose.

While tending his father-in-law Jethro's flock in the wilderness of Horeb, Moses encounters a bush that burns without being consumed. As he approaches, God calls him by name: “Moses, Moses.” Standing in the presence of God, Moses is told to remove his sandals as an act of reverence, for the ground beneath him is holy. God reveals Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying He has seen His people’s suffering and has come down to save them. Then, to Moses’ astonishment, God commissions him to lead Israel out of Egypt. Moses hesitates, feeling not good enough, but God assures him, “I will be with you,” and gives him a sign—their eventual worship at this very mountain.

This passage marks Moses’ transition from a shepherd in exile to becoming a shepherd of God’s people.

Exodus 2 recounts the story of Moses’s birth and early years. Born during Pharaoh’s edict to kill Hebrew boys, Moses is hidden by his mother and placed in a basket in the Nile. Pharaoh’s daughter finds him and raises him as her own son, while his mother acts as his nurse.

As an adult, Moses kills an Egyptian for beating a Hebrew and then flees to Midian. There, he marries Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro, and begins a new life as a shepherd.

The chapter concludes with Israel crying out under slavery, and God hearing their cry, remembering His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.