The countdown has started. How many days until Christmas? Come December 1, Advent Calendars will be placed in millions of homes reminding young and old that we’re “one day” closer.
The question is do we wait well. More often than not, the answer is probably no.
As children we waited on Christmas morning; it brought excitement, anticipation and an almost sleepless night.
As women we wait expectantly for 9months, 40 weeks – for the birth of a child. Each week, each month there’s a new joy of expectancy; even when we are the only ones who know we are pregnant, we’re excitedly awaiting the due date.
Then there’s the joy of planning a wedding – deciding on the right dress, the flowers, the venue, the food – registering for gifts, planning the honeymoon – you get the picture – although it’s in the future, there’s joy in the planning and waiting.
For the guys, there’s that first hunting trip of the season, getting the tag, the food, scouting the right spot, the thrill of the hunt, buck fever; or it could be the High School State Football Championship – the weekly games, the playoffs and finally the championship game.
Perhaps it’s the promotion at work, graduation from college or trade school, moving out and getting your own place or retirement. New adventures, new expectations, new experiences are all things we wait for.
It would be silly to think that any of these things could be accomplished without preparation, without the passage of time. Looking at the goal and preparing yourself each step along the way is what makes the end result so successful – so rewarding, so joyful.
Then why is it so hard to wait on the Lord?
Many times, have I heard someone get upset because they are having to wait for an answer to prayer, I will include myself in that. Nowadays we live in an instant, microwave, IM world. Some things are just worth waiting on.
Waiting on the Lord is trusting His timing – His perfect plan.
“Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. 14 Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” Psalm 27:13-14
Let me encourage you with this; as your waiting on the Lord, prepare yourself to receive His blessings. Don’t be discouraged instead let your anticipation build and don’t grumble. Wait patiently!
“I patiently waited, Lord, for you to hear my prayer. You listened 2 and pulled me from a lonely pit full of mud and mire. You let me stand on a rock with my feet firm, 3 and you gave me a new song, a song of praise to you. Many will see this, and they will honor and trust you, the Lord God.” Psalm 40:1-3 CEV
Don’t get discouraged. Wait on the Lord. It will be worth every second!