In the Waiting...

As we move into the Advent season it has reminded me of several things. Advent beckons us to start to look toward Christmas. Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” It makes me think about how “we” feel about waiting on the arrival of something.

Most of us hate to wait. We live in a culture and a generation that wants instantaneous everything. We want our microwave to go faster, our appointment to be on time, our house renovation to be done, our children to get through this terrible “phase”, our next raise to be awarded, and our big break to happen. Let’s be real, for the most part we are terrible at waiting.

Advent reminds us of God’s people who waited centuries for the promised Messiah. Not months, not years, not a decade, but centuries between His promise and the fulfillment. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5 (NKJV). I love that phrase, “when the fullness of time had come”; yet how often I spar against God because things are not happening according to my time.

We will probably never know, at least this side of eternity, what God is doing in the waiting. What might God be accomplishing in what we cannot see, cannot feel, and do not understand? Oh, how many times I struggle right in this spot. I don’t want to wait! I want God to move and fix this NOW!

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God is never late; He is always on time.

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I am like the child who is told no, or not now, and I just throw myself down in a major tantrum. (No, I generally do not do this in public, or even literally on the floor.) But often that is the posture of my heart and mind. I am in a throwdown with God. Ridiculous I realize, because I don’t like waiting.

What I must learn to do is remind myself of these truths.

• I can only see a few feet in front of me (if even that). I have no ability to see the whole picture. God does.

• I have no way to know what all God is doing in the waiting.

• God is never late; He is always on time.

• My time frame is based on my limited understanding.

• Waiting can provide the opportunity to trust that God is all I need.

Can I ask myself and you a question this Advent season? Are we willing to embrace the waiting, trusting God is in it? Even if our marriages are not where or what we want them to be. Even if our children or family are not doing what we desire. Even if we have no idea when an answer might come.

Advent reminds us again that the wait was long, but the reward was great! Let’s ask God this Advent season to move us toward Him in the waiting.

~Carla