Advent Waiting
Isaiah 42:1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
Hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth Isaiah spoke of Him. How did the people wait, what did they do to count the time until a savior would come? We now have many ways to wait and use tally our time. You can find a countdown in any style you’d like. In the 2nd week of Advent, time is in short supply as we all prepare for Christmas there are a bunch of options at our locations. We know it's not always easy to take a breath and make space for personal reflection or spend real time with Jesus during this season. I’d like to offer a challenge to prepare for Christmas in your heart, take a few moments with the following reflection.
faith: it all happens in the waiting (from Annette Safstrom)
I hate waiting. I just want to get to my destination, whether it’s the front of the line, a fun vacation, or the end of along week. I struggle with stillness and, sometimes, stillness is required. After it passes, I don’t regret the waiting period. The waiting allows questions to abound. Questions that can cause our faith to grow. In the waiting is when faith is most present. The presence of faith doesn’t require the absence of doubt and questions. In fact, growing faith must engage doubt and questions. Just like we need resistance to build muscle in our bodies, questions provide a resistance that can help to strengthen our faith. Unanswerable questions provide the strongest resistance. If I’m still waiting and questions are unanswered, I can be sure faith is growing. Faith is wrestling with doubt. Faith is getting stronger. Faith is being tested. Faith is drawing us closer to the One in Whom we trust.
Where have I experienced God’s faithfulness?
Where have I sensed God in my hustle?
Where have I felt God in the stillness?
God of the waiting, be with us while we wait for the arrival of a servant. Be with us in the stillness and in the hustle. Be with us when our faith is tested and when our faith feels strong. God we wait and rejoice in Your plans, known and unknown. Amen