The Waiting Game

But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine. (Isaiah 43:1)

Advent is our season of waiting. We wait for a baby to appear on the scene. As Christians, we know the significance of this baby. Before we were followers of Christ we still waited. Waited for Christmas, for Santa, for shopping to be finished or for payday so we could finish gift hunting.

Little did we know then that the greatest gift of all was soon to make an appearance. Our dark world would soon be lit up. Truth would make an entrance, and nothing would ever be the same again. Even our 'waiting' would change.

About nine years ago I was waiting for Jesus in a different way. My husband received a terminal diagnosis and we waited to see what God would do. I was waiting for Him send a cure, instead He sent a Savior to take my husband back home with Him.

Because of Advent, that time of waiting for a Savior--a Redeemer, my waiting was not a hopeless time, but a time of growing in faith and endurance.

Imagine Jesus' mother, Mary, and her time of waiting. Again, a time of waiting for a Savior, a Redeemer. As I am starting to learn, waiting is not a negative state, but a state of pregnant expectation.

Each year we begin this season waiting and anticipating what God will do for us, with us, and sometimes despite us, in the coming year. How are you spending your ‘waiting’ time this year? Please share in the comments below, or feel free to email me here.

Isaiah 43:1-13