Advent Journey

A Journey Through Waiting: Hope in the Hidden

Hello everyone, Happy Advent!

Waiting is an inevitable part of the human experience, whether it’s waiting in line at the grocery store or waiting for a future spouse. I recently went through an extended period of waiting in my own life, and the lessons I learned during that time were profound.

Hebrews 11 speaks of faith as the confidence of what we hope for and the assurance of what we do not see. This means knowing the outcome before we experience it – a challenging task in moments of waiting. Waiting can be a test of our faith, questioning whether we really believe in the unseen outcome with confidence and assurance.

It requires faith in a future that remains hidden, a powerful lesson in imagining the outcome before it materializes. Waiting is also a test of our perception of our heavenly Father. Do we trust that He is good and wants the best for His children? The Bible emphasizes that God, as a good Father, knows how to give good gifts to His children.

Furthermore, waiting becomes a test of obedience. While often try to understand everything before acting. God calls us to trust and obey even without full understanding. Abraham’s obedience in going to an unknown land without full understanding is a testament to this.

Love is also tested in waiting – the commandment to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Eternal life involves knowing God intimately, spending time with Him and listening to Him. Waiting becomes a way for God to draw us closer to Him.

As we enter the Christmas season, Luke chapter one illustrates two contrasting examples of waiting: Zechariah and Mary. Zacharias questions the angel’s message, revealing a lack of faith despite a powerful encounter. In contrast, Mary questions the angel differently, seeking understanding but maintaining a heart attitude of acceptance. Mary’s answer: “I am the Lord’s servant, may your Word to me be fulfilled,” exemplifies the ideal heart posture during waiting.

In conclusion, waiting is a universal experience, but its essence lies not only in what we wait for, but in how we wait, and the posture of heart we maintain throughout.

Thank you all and God bless!

Paul Burns
Former Managing Director
Twitter (now, X)

Prayer:

Lord, it’s so hard waiting. Sometimes I feel waiting wears me down. When I’m waiting and all hope seems lost, fill me with your eternal hope that you are always working and that your sovereign purpose is perfect.

Application:

Think of a time when you had a sense of despair clouding your thoughts. A time when you were on the verge of the loss of hope. Ask the healing touch of our Lord into those moments, into your despair, and build trust as you welcome peace and hope to fill you.