To have Christ in your life, you don’t have to have it all together—because who does?

To have Christ in your life, you don’t need to be especially spiritual—for who really is anyway?

To have Christ in your life, you don’t have to push away your difficult feelings like anger, fear, and disappointment—for aren’t those emotions common to us all?

To have Christ in your life, you don’t have to pretend you’re ok when you’re not, that things are good when you’re falling apart inside—and besides, who does that actually help?

To have Christ in your life, all you have to do is admit your brokenness and need—he promises to meet you there in the middle of it.

To have Christ in your life, you only need to pray using the words you already have—because there’s no special spiritual vocabulary you need to talk to him.

To have Christ in your life, you can be honest about all of your internal mess—after all, he knows your heart perfectly and loves you infinitely.

To have Christ in your life, you can come to him just as you are—and Christ, who is God incarnate, the divine in flesh and blood, will receive you.

Advent and Christmas are about many things. But above all, this season is about this: Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. He came to us. He continues to come to us. To have Christ in your life, all you need to do is receive this glorious mystery that lies at the heart of all reality. Advent is about waiting for God’s arrival. God also waits. He waits for us with an open embrace. He has come to us—will we come to him?