Waiting, Waiting, Waiting
Hi Friends!
This past Sunday (November 27th), we began a new season! No, it’s not technically winter yet, and most of us would say that the Christmas season began on Black Friday.
There are two major holidays on the Christian calendar—Easter and Christmas. Each has a corresponding period of time, a season, leading up to it that helps believers practically prepare for what they will celebrate on that holiday. The season leading up to Easter is commonly referred to as “Lent,” which is characterized by followers of Jesus preparing to celebrate Jesus’ victory over sin and death by participating in a small reminder of his suffering through fasting, or “giving something up,” as many would refer to it.
The season leading up to Christmas is a bit different. Christmas is a holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus, what we call the “incarnation,” or God coming into the world as a human being. This season is characterized by waiting, longing for God to come into the world and set things right. In the same way that followers of God have waited for him to act in centuries past, so also do we expectantly wait for God to set things right here and now.
From now until Christmas, I’ll be walking through a daily Bible reading plan with some of the students that I work with on the YouVersion Bible app. If you’d like to join us, you can find the plan here. Each day consists of a devotional and a few readings from the scriptures that center our attention on one of the three themes of Advent: hope, peace, joy, and love. We’d love for you to join us!
Now that we’ve laid some groundwork…
A Thought.
I hate waiting.
I don’t care if we’re talking about waiting in line at the grocery store, waiting for a package from Amazon to arrive, or waiting for Christmas to get here. I hate all waiting in general.
Maybe you can relate.
So naturally, when you read the paragraphs above about Advent being an entire season of waiting, you may have felt a little put off. I mean, if waiting for your food to come to your table makes you feel antsy, why would waiting for God be any different? At least you know for sure that your food will get there eventually.
With God, sometimes things can feel uncertain. We’re not sure if he’s going to answer our prayers for help in the ways that we hope he will, or maybe you just feel like you wish God would act more quickly. You’re confident that he will show up, but you’re not exactly loving his timing.
But here’s the thing: You’re not wasting time when you’re waiting on God.
When we’re talking about waiting for God, there is always a deeper meaning to our experience. God isn’t cruel; he doesn’t make us wait for things just so he can see us squirm a little bit. Even though we may want him to act more quickly, his first priority is your thriving and your growth. And he knows that sometimes we need to wait for something to have a greater appreciation for it. Or maybe the waiting helps you develop more as a person.
You might be waiting for God to do something right now. Maybe you’ve been praying and asking and hoping that he’ll come through and do the very thing you’ve been desperately wanting him to do, but he hasn’t done it yet.
What if you learned to look at even the waiting as a gift?
An opportunity to learn more about God’s character instead of always just wanting him for what he can do for you. A chance to slow down and see the ways that God is working in everything instead of just that one thing. A place for you to rest in God’s love for you, knowing that even the waiting is for your good and your growth.
You’re not wasting time when you’re waiting on God.
A Resource.
This one will be really quick.
In case you didn’t hop on the reading plan we mentioned above, here’s an incredible resource for your spiritual journey this Advent season.
Louie Giglio, pastor of Passion City Church, put together an Advent devotional called “Waiting Here for You,” several years ago that is INCREDIBLE. It makes a great gift for someone you love (or yourself). It’s the kind of resource that you can come back to every year, read it with your friends, family, or small group, and find another beautiful truth every time.
You can check out Waiting Here For You by clicking this link.
A Verse. Or Two.
Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
—Psalm 27:14 (NLT)
Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.
—Isaiah 40:31 (NRSV)