Fall On Your Knees… And Rest (an Advent poem)

I’m a wanna be poet, and most years, as my Christmas gift to the body of Shades Valley Community Church, I write a poem. This Advent, the lyrics to “O Holy Night” have been constantly echoing in my heart… particularly the line “The Weary World Rejoices.” I’ve spent much of this season pondering how one can rejoice amidst weariness. The poem below was birthed from the thought that the way this song calls us to rejoice is by responding to the invitation of the angels’ voices to come and fall on our knees… a posture of rest. Rest amidst weariness is found through truly, deeply rejoicing in Christ. So, I pray this poem helps, in even the smallest way, to point you toward rejoicing in Jesus… I pray it invites you to come fall on your knees and rest.

Merry Christmas,
Jonathan Haefs
(If you’d rather listen than read, click here… timestamp 1:08:56)

Fall On Your Knees… And Rest
Are you tired and heavy laden? 
Beat down, forgotten, jaded? 
Has despair drained you dry?
Filled you with regret?
Knocked to the ground, dirt in the mouth, 
brow beading blood and sweat? 

Hear now the angel’s voice,
Calling you to come, rejoice
Come, fall on your knees and rest
Come, see HOPE take on flesh

Are you lost, and in need of help?
Left behind and loveless felt? 
Have you been promised much, 
Yet forgotten more?
Tossed around, near homeless now, 
heart empty, broke and poor? 

Hear now the angel’s voice,
Calling you to come, rejoice
Come, fall on your knees and rest
Come, see LOVE take on flesh

Do you weep and feel so depressed,
A melancholic-apathetic-mess?
Have you cared so deep 
Only to be burned?
Stabbed in the back, your heart a wreck,
Dejected, torn, and spurned? 

Hear now the angel’s voice
Calling you to come, rejoice
Come, fall on your knees and rest
Come, see JOY take on flesh

Are you anxious and filled with fear?
Worry driven, belief seared? 
Have you been filled with doubt, 
A cynic’s sight?
Mind racing round, answers unfound, 
Tempted to leave the fight? 

Hear now the angel’s voice
Calling you to come, rejoice
Come, fall on your knees and rest
Come, see PEACE take on flesh

Come all tired and heavy laden, 
Bring your hurt heart that’s jaded 
You’re not forgotten or
Abandoned yet 
You’re loved and found, by him who’s brow 
will one day bead blood and sweat 

Hear now the angel’s voice
Calling you to come, rejoice
Come, fall on your knees and rest
Come, see CHRIST take on flesh