And I’ve been thinking about things going upside down.

What happens when everything in your life gets turned upside down? When everything that was once comfortable and routine has become confusing and out of sorts? What do you do when all that you found stable and secure is no longer a reality?

We all go through moments when what matters to us go upside down. And in one sense the possibility that everything we know has the potential to flip upside down looms about like a gloomy winter cloud.

If we were left to our own perspectives, we might get lost in a forest of despair. But Advent reminds us that there is a different and more hopeful way of seeing. A way of looking at our upside down realities as the penultimate chapter, the deal before the unveiling and not the final hand.

In Micah 5, the Old Testament passage from Sunday’s Advent texts, we are reminded that God is going to do something to the world’s upside down realities.

“But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth, and he shall be the one of peace.” – Micah 5:2-5a

From the beginning of the passage, the stage is set for God to reverse our understandings. A ruler from Bethlehem? A King from the smallest of villages? Before the child is even born we are promised a change of course.

In a somewhat challenging word — and common scriptural theme — the prophet tells us that the people will be given up. They will be handed over to their enemies who will have their way with them. In addition, they will be given over to their own rebellions.

And though it looks as if they no longer have a future of fortune, a woman in labor will initiate a change. The child in her womb is the promise to save them from their subjection.

Even though they will be given over they will be brought back. Though they have departed, they shall return.

• No longer will they be hungry because a shepherd will feed them.

• No longer shall they wander without a handle on things, for a Shepherd will guide them with the power of his mighty hand.

• No longer shall they linger in poverty, for the King of majesty will invite them to eternally share in his rule.

• No longer shall they be afraid or be without, for the One whose name means salvation will visit to liberate them to a home of peace.

The promise of Advent is that all of what is upside down in our world will be reversed. Not simply as a turning of a page, or a flipping of a switch, but a change from death to resurrection.

Jesus is not coming again to merely make all our upside down things right side up, He right now comes to make all things new.

The season you are in might be overwhelmed by misfortune, but the gift of God’s presence restores a harvest of fortune we didn’t know was even possible.

This promise, given to the smallest of villages about a boy born in a manger, will be made known to the ends of the earth.

And in the cry of a helpless newborn, the greatness of God has a voice.

When that greatness speaks, everything is and will actually be turned upside down.

For real and for good.