This message invites us into the profound reality that Advent is not merely a countdown to Christmas, but a season of deep spiritual preparation and hope. Drawing from Isaiah 40, we encounter God meeting His people in their darkest exile with tender words of comfort. The passage reminds us that we are often like ancient Israel—feeling hidden from God, carrying guilt, living in self-imposed exile. Yet God's first word to us isn't condemnation but comfort. The imagery is striking: God calls us to prepare the way of the Lord by leveling the mountains of our pride and filling the valleys of our despair. This isn't about civil engineering but heart transformation. We're challenged to identify where our hearts need clearing—the rough places of hidden sin, the crooked paths of unprocessed grief, the peaks of self-sufficiency. The hope we're offered isn't built on temporary circumstances or our own abilities, but on the eternal, unfading Word of God. In a world where everything—our strength, beauty, empires, and achievements—eventually withers like grass, only God's promises stand forever. This Advent, we're called to receive divine comfort, anchor ourselves in Scripture, lift our voices to share hope with others, and run to the Shepherd King who is both mighty enough to save and tender enough to carry us close to His heart.