Waiting for a Valentine

4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-6)

Sometimes it feels as if all I do is wait. As a child I remember waiting for school to get out for the summer, waiting for my birthday. I was even told often, "wait until your father gets home." Fast forward a few years and I wait for high school graduation, then waiting to for my twenty-first birthday, (not all its cracked up to be by the way).

Fast forward many years and February 14th is marked as the day I waited at my husband's bedside as we said our goodbyes. Now, I am waiting out my last weeks before retirement. Waiting seems to be punctuated by change. The apostles were instructed to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit. This gift most definitely ushered in change for this band of faith-filled followers.

While waiting, we are not stagnant, we are preparing. A child prepares for summer break by planning all the fun things he/she will do and dreams of these things with friends. The adult prepares for a huge life change. Life is peppered with seasons of waiting.

Waiting is a positive position to take. We prepare during a time of waiting. We plan and we often pray during our waiting. Had the apostles ignored the command to wait for the Holy Spirit, for that special gift from God and rushed out to tell about their journey with Jesus - no one would have understood or listened. They waited and were blessed beyond measure.

The next time we are forced to wait--for anything, use the time to breathe in and contemplate all that is happening. Examine your heart and thank God for this precious time and then just wait on Him to do something spectacular.


Acts 1:4-8