Advent – waiting - 10 December 2008

It seems ironic to me that the season of advent is all about waiting for Christ’s coming, and yet in reality many of us spend the time hurtling around frantically getting stuff together for the big day!  There seems to be no sense of waiting, the day approaches much too rapidly as we try to get everything ready.  I could certainly do with spending a few moments each day quietly anticipating the joy of Christmastime – I’m sure it would enrich my spirit in the middle of all this mad rush.  I have a friend who has all Christmas presents bought and wrapped before Advent begins so that she can properly anticipate Christmas.

Waiting is one of the hardest things we have to do, especially in our world when we can do so many things in an instant.

In the first few chapters of Luke everyone is waiting: Zechariah for the birth of John and of course to be able to speak again, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, Simeon, Hannah, the angels … all waiting: Impatient for what God had promised.

How could they wait, in Simeon and Anna’s case for so long?

Firstly, they did use the time to prepare for what they were waiting for. You can imagine the parents preparing for the birth of the baby and the two old folks spent years waiting on God in prayerful praise and service so that they wouldn’t miss their moment.

If you’re waiting for something to happen, how can you best prepare for it?

Secondly they held onto God’s promise.  They could only wait because God had spoken of the good that was to come to them.  If you’re finding it difficult to wait, look for God’s words of promise to you and hold onto them.  They will strengthen you as you wait.

“Blessed is she [he] who has believed that what the Lord has said to her [him] will be accomplished”   Luke 1: 45 [NIV]