Prose Supplements - Shop now
Add Prime to get Fast, Free delivery
Amazon prime logo
$10.79 with 46 percent savings
List Price: $19.99
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Saturday, March 29 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Tomorrow, March 25. Order within 3 hrs 17 mins.
In Stock
$$10.79 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$10.79
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Advent for Exiles: 25 Devotions to Awaken Gospel Hope in Every Longing Heart Hardcover – September 24, 2024

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 67 ratings

Coupon:  
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$10.79","priceAmount":10.79,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"10","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"79","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"Z89sSDi2F4dejE0g%2B08uzjch7LzTn%2B8p%2Foi%2FScyPjgPZzdjW3aYlfNtDeRJFGIe0CWlmPSJHvQkRjRgPu7unit8OdLfK2CnGRSIdmsmxEGVkI2c%2BSJQl10yNkhrwNmhs8JynPqL9Cw4wb3H8QX1lzA%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Do you long for a more honest, imaginative, and Scripture-rich companion for the Advent season? A devotional willing to acknowledge the darkness of exile and the brokenness you see around and within, so you might rejoice more fully in the arrival of Jesus, the Light of the World?

In 
Advent for Exiles songwriter and storyteller Caroline Cobb weaves together Scripture readings, song lyrics, poetic prose, biblical imagery, and responsive exercises to help you:
  • break away from the hurried holiday pace, and daily stoke your anticipation for Jesus’s coming
  • engage both your mind and your imagination in the truth of God’s Word
  • walk in the shoes of the Old Testament exiles, linking arms with them as they ache for the Messiah
  • travel the Advent road from darkness to daybreak, exile to homecoming, and wilderness to a flourishing garden
  • explore how the full story of Scripture—from creation to Christ’s return—informs and expands your delight at Christmas

As the darkness of a long night sharpens our longing for the sunrise, this book of daily readings for the month of December will whet your appetite for the promised Messiah and amplify your joy at His arrival. 

Come slow your pace, engage your imagination, and feast on the rich and relevant biblical theme of exile: His light shining in our darkness, His seed sprouting green in our wilderness. Allow yourself to experience the ache of Advent, so you might rejoice all the more at the beauty of Christ’s coming!
 
The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

Frequently bought together

This item: Advent for Exiles: 25 Devotions to Awaken Gospel Hope in Every Longing Heart
$10.79
Get it as soon as Saturday, Mar 29
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$20.20
Get it as soon as Saturday, Mar 29
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$15.04
Get it as soon as Saturday, Mar 29
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
spCSRF_Treatment
Choose items to buy together.

From the brand


From the Publisher

Book lying flat on wood table with greenery and text
Graphic with text
Two interior spreads of the book lying open
Headshot of author with text
Send Out Your Light
Heaven and Nature Sing
The God Who is With Us
Customer Reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars 22
4.8 out of 5 stars 137
4.9 out of 5 stars 48
Price $15.47 $15.74 $14.47
Author Sandra McCracken Hannah Anderson Ronnie Martin

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In Advent for Exiles, songwriter Caroline Cobb offers a devotional that truly stirs devotion, inviting us to drink deeply and savor slowly the goodness of the Lord over the Advent season. As she drew out each biblical metaphor, Caroline’s words captured my imagination, placed me within God’s story, and reoriented the meditations of my heart to its true north. In many ways, Advent for Exiles is a call to worship, and within its pages, Caroline is doing what she always does: telling God’s story so that we can worship Him more fully."
Caroline Saunders, author of Come Home: Tracing God’s Promise of Home Through Scripture (Lifeway Women)

"
Advent for Exiles stands out from any devotional I've come across. This book not only compels readers to love the story of Scripture more but also encourages weary exiles to find hope in Christ – engaging our senses and imagination with biblical truth. It is a deeply encouraging read that will move you to rejoice in Christ's first coming and yearn for his return—a perfect choice for the Advent season."
Hunter Beless, Founder of Journeywomen Ministries and author of Read it, See it, Say it, Sing it!

"
Advent for Exiles weaves a glorious tapestry of good news that will help you experience Advent in a meaningful new way."
Ruth Chou Simons, Wall Street Journal bestselling author, artist, and founder of gracelaced.com

“I love a good Advent devotional, and this is a great one. Infused with a beautifully coherent, biblically rich exilic theme throughout, Caroline Cobb’s
Advent for Exiles takes the reader deeper into a full-Bible understanding of Advent. Including Scripture passages, poetic song lyrics, and responses in prayer and practice, Advent for Exiles is an engaging resource to enhance you and your family's Advent season.”
Brett McCracken, senior editor, The Gospel Coalition, author of The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World 

Advent for Exilestruly raises the bar for what an Advent resource can be. It is so much more than another random string of devotional thoughts related to Christmas. As only Caroline Cobb can do, she takes us on a legitimate spiritual journey through God’s biggest story. It is beautiful, creative, and packs a spiritual punch. Anyone who accepts Caroline’s invitation to engage with God this Advent will be blessed by how she weaves the threads of the old, old story into a fresh tapestry of God’s grace for sinners.”
Adam Griffin (DEdMin, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the lead pastor of Eastside Community Church in Dallas, Texas. He is the host of the Family Discipleship Podcast and the author of several books and resources for families.

“Want to experience the crescendo of Advent through the ears of a musician? To see its images in technicolor through the eyes of an artist? In
Advent for Exiles, theology meets poetry. Feel the dark hopelessness of exile, and rejoice in the bright hope of Christ’s coming. You’ll find yourself shaking your head at the loss of Eden and the promised land, then smiling at Cobb’s vivid descriptions of the coming Zion. Advent for Exiles will employ your mind, spirit, and body as you work your way through the 'gospel' of Isaiah.”
Christine Gordon, Co-Founder of At His Feet Studies, www.athisfeetstudies.com

“The season of Advent is more like chocolate and snow skiing than like math and philosophy. You don’t really know it if you only think about it. You only
know it if you try it and do it. And that’s what Caroline’s beautiful devotional invites us to do with Advent: to try it, taste it, feel it, see it, sing it, pray it, and go throughits Isaianic contours one patient—and perhaps painful—day at a time. In doing so, she gives us a fighting chance to know what it is truly to wait faithfully for the coming of Christ within our often-very broken lives.”
W. David O. Taylor, Associate Professor of Theology and Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary and author of Prayers for the Pilgrimage

"Caroline writes in beautiful and authentic prose and poetry, taking you on a journey of exile—one with which, whether you realize it or not, we are all familiar. Immersing us in some of the themes of Scripture's grand story, Caroline delves into the nature of hope throughout Isaiah's message and beyond. This book is for those who mourn, those who ache for a better world. And don't be mistaken: this book can and should be read beyond just the Christmas season. The story of God making His home with us is always relevant, and I hope every individual and family takes advantage of this sincere labor of love."
Quina Aragon, author of Love Has a Story: 100 Meditations on the Enduring Love of God 

Advent for Exiles by Caroline Cobb offers a gospel lens that directs our gaze backward and forward at the same time. Cobb writes her book with patience. She sits with her reader in the darkness of Old Testament exiles and takes her time to recall the beauty and brokenness of our own already-and-not-yet reality in Christ. Readers of Advent for Exiles will anticipate the first and final advent of Christ like a watchman waiting for a brilliant sunrise after a long night. Cobb weaves together biblical theology, song lyrics, prayers, and thoughtful exercises to trumpet a glorious truth: the coming of Christ redefines our past, sustains us in our present exile, and feeds our hope for an eternal home. Advent for Exiles by Caroline Cobb is a book worth savoring and singing along with this Advent season.”
Nana Dolce, author of The Seed of the Woman: 30 Narratives that Point to Jesus 

 

About the Author

Before her thirtieth birthday, Caroline Cobb set a goal to write a song for every book of the Bible in one year. That year set a new calling into motion: to tell God's Story through music and other creative work, helping you rehearse it and respond to it as you go about your everyday life. Her most recent album, Psalms: The Poetry of Prayer (May 2023) gives voice to a rich range of prayers from the psalms and builds on Caroline’s previous storytelling projects A King & His Kindness (2021), A Seed, A Sunrise (2020), a Home & a Hunger (2017), and the Blood + the Breath (2013). Caroline has been featured by Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, The Rabbit Room, Risen Motherhood and many more, with a Home & a Hunger named among “The Best Albums of the Decade (2010’s)” by The Gospel Coalition. She and her husband Nick live in Dallas, Texas, with their three children Ellie, Harrison, and Libby.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ B&H Books (September 24, 2024)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1430095849
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1430095842
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 0.8 x 7.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 67 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Caroline Cobb
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Caroline Cobb loves to tell God’s Story through music and writing, helping you rehearse and respond to it as you go about your everyday life. Her first book invites you to experience the exilic ache of Advent, so you might rejoice all the more at Christ’s coming. Cobb has also released five “Story-telling” albums, including Psalms: The Poetry of Prayer (2023) and A Seed, A Sunrise (2020). Her work can be found at Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, The Rabbit Room, Risen Motherhood and more. Caroline and her husband Nick live in Dallas with their children Ellie, Harrison, and Libby.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
67 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find the book's scripture content rich and meaningful. They appreciate the creative Advent theme and activities. Readers describe it as an amazing, well-worth reading experience with beautiful visual art. The daily prompts and prayers are practical and insightful, breaking down complex concepts into understandable ones. Customers find the story deep and meaningful, with unwavering integrity and quality printing.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

21 customers mention "Scripture content"21 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's scripture content. They find it meaningful, spiritually rich, and encouraging. The book is described as Christ-exalting and practical. Readers also mention that the prayers are insightful and interwoven with song lyrics.

"...Her reflections are insightful, faithful to the texts she engages with, and draw from a wide array of sources from different denominations and..." Read more

"...It's a small book with a lovely cover, and an even more beautiful message - that when we feel like exiles (this world is not our home!)..." Read more

"...Caroline is a poet, artist, and child of God. All 3 of these roles shine through in this work...." Read more

"...all your senses in this journey so that you can holistically relate to the story of God and the human condition that none of us are exempt from...." Read more

11 customers mention "Creativity"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book creative and engaging for Advent. They appreciate the theme, music, and activities that enrich the season. The book is described as thoughtful, inviting, and challenging.

"...aesthetic of the book is quite pleasing - beautiful and thoughtful visual art by Stephen Procopio, nice hardcover and solid binding for repeated use..." Read more

"...Her words are honest and thoughtful, and each day's message packs truth into a short reading...." Read more

"...Caroline is a poet, artist, and child of God. All 3 of these roles shine through in this work...." Read more

"...Daily Devotions: There are good Advent Devotions that are only one for each week of Advent, but why squander Advent by not doing a daily..." Read more

10 customers mention "Value for money"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a great value for money. They praise its good hardcover and solid binding. The art by Stephen Procopio is appreciated. It's described as one of the best new books of the year, with rich Biblical content.

"...- beautiful and thoughtful visual art by Stephen Procopio, nice hardcover and solid binding for repeated use, and a built-in bookmark similar to..." Read more

"...Easily one of the best new books of the year!" Read more

"...A pleasure to read." Read more

"...My wife and I were convicted, delighted, and encouraged to repent of sin, prepare our hearts, worship Jesus, and look to his future Advent even as..." Read more

7 customers mention "Aesthetic"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's visual art. They find it pleasing and well-designed, showing Old Testament prophecies in a good Advent style.

"...Finally, the overall aesthetic of the book is quite pleasing - beautiful and thoughtful visual art by Stephen Procopio, nice hardcover and solid..." Read more

"...It's a small book with a lovely cover, and an even more beautiful message - that when we feel like exiles (this world is not our home!)..." Read more

"...Her research, responsive prayers, and beautiful word pictures — all reveal an author who has spent time marinating in the book of Isaiah...." Read more

"...In good Advent style, it shows the prophecies in the Old Testament and shows their fulfillment in the New Testament...." Read more

7 customers mention "Pacing"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the daily prompts and prayers practical and insightful. They appreciate the short chapters that break down complex concepts into something understandable. The research, responsive prayers, and beautiful word pictures reveal a down-to-earth, beautifully written daily shared testament.

"...are song lyrics, the Scripture passage(s), and a response activity or prayer for each day...." Read more

"...All 3 of these roles shine through in this work. Her research, responsive prayers, and beautiful word pictures — all reveal an author who has..." Read more

"...all of this through short chapters and breaks down complex concepts into something easily understandable, making this the perfect advent devotional..." Read more

"A down-to-earth, beautifully written daily shared testament...." Read more

4 customers mention "Depth"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the depth of the book and songs. They find the songs meaningful and biblically-based.

"...listen to each song that goes with the readings, which adds an extra layer of depth and a unique way of contemplation...." Read more

"...were easy to read even in the busyness of the season while also being deep, meaningful, and practical." Read more

"For about a dozen years, Caroline Cobb has been writing and releasing rich, Biblically-saturated songs...." Read more

"Deep and meaningful Christmas companion..." Read more

4 customers mention "Integrity"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's integrity. They find the story fluid and its integrity unwavering. The size, beautiful design, and quality binding/printing are also mentioned as positive aspects.

"...and thoughtful visual art by Stephen Procopio, nice hardcover and solid binding for repeated use, and a built-in bookmark similar to ones found in..." Read more

"...to end and longs to show others how the story is fluid and its integrity unwavering...." Read more

"...Its size, beautiful design, and quality binding/printing would make this a great teacher or Thanksgiving hostess gift!..." Read more

"Good, solid, simple devotions..." Read more

Don’t wait for Advent…
5 out of 5 stars
Don’t wait for Advent…
The beautiful journey Caroline Cobb takes us on in this intended-for-Advent devotional is one you can embark upon any time of year. As a songwriter/poet, Cobb points her readers in each entry to focus first on scripture then saturates them in Christ-exalting language that culminates each day with a tangible prayer or active response designed to train the heart toward worship. What a joy it has been to follow the prompts during this waiting time before Christmas! Cobb encourages us to wait with joyful expectation because the Lord is near!
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2024
    Caroline's "Advent for Exiles" is a welcome addition to the Advent devotional genre. Her reflections are insightful, faithful to the texts she engages with, and draw from a wide array of sources from different denominations and traditions. What makes this book unique is that she also incorporates her own lyrics. As a fan of her music I enjoyed reading lyrics that I've previously listened to and sung. Caroline is a thoughtful and skilled lyricist, and encountering the lyrics as poetry made me appreciate them even more. The included prayer practices are accessible and useful for individuals and families. Finally, the overall aesthetic of the book is quite pleasing - beautiful and thoughtful visual art by Stephen Procopio, nice hardcover and solid binding for repeated use, and a built-in bookmark similar to ones found in some Bibles and prayer books.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2024
    I was familiar with Caroline Cobb because of her music, so when I found out she had an Advent devotional I was confident it would be beautifully written and faithful to Scripture. Her words are honest and thoughtful, and each day's message packs truth into a short reading.  There are song lyrics, the Scripture passage(s), and a response activity or prayer for each day.  There is a link where you can listen to each song that goes with the readings, which adds an extra layer of depth and a unique way of contemplation.  It's a small book with a lovely cover, and an even more beautiful message - that when we feel like exiles (this world is not our home!) we can long for and rejoice at the coming of Jesus.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2024
    I don’t give out 5 stars unless I reeeeally feel it’s merited. Caroline is a poet, artist, and child of God. All 3 of these roles shine through in this work. Her research, responsive prayers, and beautiful word pictures — all reveal an author who has spent time marinating in the book of Isaiah. Advent for Exiles has truly deepened my celebration and understanding of the Savior this season.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2024
    I will admit up front that I love the Advent season and I love Advent devotionals. So why should you read this one this year? Here are some reasons, in no particular order, why this should be your next read this year.

    Family oriented:

    There is something for everyone in Cobb’s writing. That is to say, there isn’t anyone on Earth that can’t personally relate to the content of her writing. And her writing style is easy to read, passionate, caring, insightful, and by no means least, creative. It will engage your imagination and your own creativity.
    There is heavy content contained in her writing, so parents may want to have follow-up discussions with their kids about what you read together. But there isn’t anything that is inappropriate for children.

    Honesty:

    In order for us to truly appreciate why Jesus came, Cobb’s writing sets the stage with a universal problem. The total depravity of man. It’s not a warm and fuzzy feeling that we like to associate with our American Christmas. But if we want to truly celebrate Christmas for what it really means, this honesty is the very best place to start. Cobb has the boldness to address what none of us want to address at Christmas. We cannot live a good life. We cannot fulfill God’s law. We do not know how to love. We need Jesus in our lives.

    Message of Hope:

    Cobb so wonderfully draws out how Jesus meets all our needs, even in our deserts. We might continue to strive to live a good life apart from God, to fulfill his laws apart from him, to love others out of our own strength. Whether from habit or from outright rebellion, we may stray from him in our deserts. But God longs to teach our hearts and souls and minds that He will provide, even when we think our situation is bleak beyond redemption. And Jesus was that ultimate provision. What our hearts have been longing for. He is the fulfillment of every need we have.

    Multifaceted devotions:

    Cobb will engage all your senses in this journey so that you can holistically relate to the story of God and the human condition that none of us are exempt from.
    Each devotion has a Bible reading that pulls from Old Testament and New. In good Advent style, it shows the prophecies in the Old Testament and shows their fulfillment in the New Testament. Cobb loves how the Bible is interconnected from beginning to end and longs to show others how the story is fluid and its integrity unwavering.
    There is also a reflection written by Cobb that will tease out the elements of the Bible stories that once distilled, do not seem so foreign or removed from time and culture.
    Cobb shares lines from her own songs she’s written that relate to each devotion. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to relate to the topic through your senses and go to carolinecobb.com\adventforexiles and listen as you go through the devotionals. Listen to the songs throughout your day to help you to dwell on the devotional and what it has for your heart and soul.
    Finally, there are ways to respond at the end of each devotional. Whether in prayer or in practice, there are sweet activities that the whole family can do together. In fact, Cobb recommends that they are better to do with others than alone.

    Daily Devotions:

    There are good Advent Devotions that are only one for each week of Advent, but why squander Advent by not doing a daily devotion? I am so excited that Cobb decided to make hers a daily devotion. It will enrich your Advent season and it will focus your heart on the meaning of Christmas more acutely than a weekly devotion will be able to do. This is a big advantage to other devotionals in my opinion.

    This year, don’t settle for a mediocre Advent devotional when this one is right at your fingertips!
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2024
    Cobb is a musical artist first and is now expanding to writing longer form. She weaves her lyrics, poetry, biblical theology and her own perspectives on Advent. What was most fascinating about this devotional is that she spends a lot of time in the Old Testament (especially Isaiah) to demonstrate the wonders of the season, ones that she hopes bring encouragement to we exiles.

    Each devotion begins with some verses from Cobb's songs which I appreciated and I expect their presentation in the final published edition would be more prominent and artistic.

    This is unlikely to be a devotional I return to but that's not taking away from the insights and encouraging practical reflections Cobb provides in this 25 day book.

    I was fortunate to receive an early ebook copy from the publisher via Net Galley. This, however, has had no bearing on my review.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2024
    Just like her music, Caroline Cobb’s book encourages me with the truth of God’s Word. Using the Bible as her foundation, she exposes the lies that leave us hopeless, pointing us instead toward our actual hope through the exile of life—the Lord Jesus Christ. She does all of this through short chapters and breaks down complex concepts into something easily understandable, making this the perfect advent devotional for my busy life AND making it the perfect gift for someone either new to the Christian faith or someone who has been a Christian for many years. Easily one of the best new books of the year!
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2024
    A down-to-earth, beautifully written daily shared testament. I bought a few; makes a great Christmas season gift since the cover is gorgeous & interior layout/formatting/design are also so well-done. A pleasure to read.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Toni
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exile Christmas Devotions
    Reviewed in Canada on October 9, 2024
    These devotions are perfect for the 25 days leading up to Christmas! Forget the Advent Calendar...this is exactly what we need to bring in Christmas. Thank you Carolyn!
  • j
    4.0 out of 5 stars Poetic, insightful Advent devotional
    Reviewed in Canada on December 12, 2024
    “Stop. Feel the weight. Imagine again the midnight of exile, the dark before the dawn. As the darkness of night stirs our longing for the sunrise, our sorrow over our own sin and the brokenness around us heightens our desire for the Saviour. The black cloud draped over this period of judgment; the helplessness God’s people felt to get back home to him—these shadows throw the bright beauty of Jesus’s arrival into sharp relief” (Cobb 47).

    Caroline Cobb's music has been one of my companions this year. Well, to be very specific, there were a few months where I found myself listening to "Find Me In This Cave" on loop for days. Her music has a stillness, a humility, and a simple poetry to it that touched my heart deeply when it most needed that song, which was in its own way a prayer that uttered what was unutterable in my own prayers. So when I heard that she was working on a devotional for Advent, I was incredibly excited to read it, knowing her gift with words, and the observations that had come from the still, watchful eye of someone who can hear the song in voicelessness. And as I read the advance copy in a mostly-empty coffee shop, I was moved to joy and to tears in the same quiet, still way as her music had moved me.

    Cobb’s craft as a storyteller shines through vividly and transparently in her prose. The very first entry in the devotional succinctly reveals her intention of guiding your imagination through Advent: “Can you imagine Eden?” Her purpose in writing this devotional is not to impart something merely cerebral, but to draw us deeper into relational understanding of our relational God; to stir our imaginations and let the familiarity of these old stories fall away like old skins, revealing the hidden fire within, the wonder of the Incarnation that we so easily forget.

    “My hope is the use of biblical imagery, music and lyrics, storytelling, and physical or visual exercises might stoke the ember of your imagination into flame, even as the Bible readings and biblical principles within the reflections anchor you, giving boundaries for that fire” (Cobb 8).

    Just like her songwriting, Cobb's writing here is deceptively simple. The precision and beauty of her writing conveys the simple truth of the Gospel, and presents the beauty of it with an honest, unflinching receptivity towards the joy of it. And yet she tells you in her introduction that “in these pages, you will not find “the most wonderful time of the year” but thorns, ashes, and deep gloom. You’ll meet Adam and Eve homesick for Eden and the weeping exiles in Babylon hanging up their harps in the polar trees... But as the darkness of a long night augments our longing for the sunrise, I hope these images of exile will expand your desire for the promised Messiah and amplify your joy at his coming” (Cobb 2-3). Advent, after all, does not allow us to ignore the brokenness and pain of our world.

    Cobb invites you to "let the ache of your own exile, the dark shroud of your helplessness and sin, make Jesus's first advent, and his promised final advent, all the more glorious to you", through the practices of lament and repentance, and the intentional contemplation of our state as exiles (Cobb 43). One of the aspects of this devotional that I found particularly beautiful is her exhortation to be be still and feel the tension between Jesus's first coming and his promised return; not to dwell in the discomfort for the sake of doing so, but to better understand the magnitude of grace, and to allow a renewed and refreshed understanding of how miraculous a gift it is to seep through our everyday rhythms of life.

    “Just wait a moment here. Resist the temptation to fast-forward to the happy ending. Let yourself feel the homesickness, the weight of sin on your shoulders, the hunger pangs. Let yourself see the cherubim barring your way to God. When we allow ourselves to linger in the dissonance and ache of exile, we amplify the glory of what God has done in the advent of Jesus” (Cobb 26).

    This devotional is an invitation into stillness, contemplation, and understanding. Though not all of the practical tips she recommended were things that I connected with, I found some of the prayers she wrote as responses particularly moving and thoughtful. Cobb's final purpose in this devotional is to spur us to joyful action, as a response to the joy given to us in this season of hope - that we would embody and live out the eternal hope we carry (coming from a liturgical tradition, this was something that I resonated with strongly!).

    While she does not flinch from the sorrow and pain in this world that is worth mourning and lamenting over, Cobb does not sit and stay in valleys of despair. Cobb, whose music swells with an unrelenting and quietly persevering hope, urges the reader to walk in both the heights and the depths of life, holding to the same hope that the exiles from Eden and the exiles from Jerusalem found themselves irresistibly drawn to; to "take comfort, because it is precisely in these impossibly dry, desert places that God delights to make a garden grow" (Cobb 72).

    It was a real blessing to read this devotional. I hope it will be a blessing to those who read it this Advent, too.

    "Jesus is the seed of the new creation, planted right in the middle of your exile and mine. He arrives not to seek out the best soil or sow into only the most suitable plots of land. No, he arrives to bring beauty from the ashes and rivers in the wilderness!" (Cobb 72)

    “Advent invites you to remember and rehearse your pilgrim identity. Today, it bids you to practice the discipline of journeying with anticipation, eyes focused on an unseen, eternal destination beyond compare, and—even more!—on the glorious God who makes his home there. Surely, he is worth it all” (Cobb 88).

    I was offered an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review, and am glad to be a part of the launch team for this devotional :-)