Waiting

Waiting is hard. And it seems to be only getting worse. The efficiency of technology raises our expectations for instant response. Wifi speeds are increasing. Drive-thru wait times are decreasing. And the very progress of our culture speeding up exposes the moments when we have to wait. We’ve grown very impatient. Waiting has become so hard.

Yet Advent is full of waiting. Israel had to wait 400 years for a Word from God. Zechariah and Elizabeth had to wait many years before the birth of their child. Zechariah had to wait nine months until he could speak. God’s covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12 finds its fulfillment in the birth of Jesus after 42 generations- 14 generations from Abraham to David, 14 generations from David to the Babylonian Exile, and 14 generations from the exile to Jesus.

The Lord uses the time of waiting for our good. It is a crucible of transformation. In the pain of waiting, we can observe the idols of our heart- money, convenience, control, comfort or success. So Scripture calls us to wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” In our time of waiting, let us be transformed by His grace. May all of our hopes and desires be in subordination to the Lord. And in this will we experience hope and peace. Amen.