We are all waiting. Every single one of us. Waiting on so many things.

Jobs. Families. Security. Healing. Love.

And, yes, Jesus.

Weary, wanderlust, wondering waiting.

Yes, waiting can drive us to so many different emotions and leave our souls stripped bare of any hope. Whatever it may be you are waiting on, I pray that in the midst of the pause, you will see God’s glory. His very hand carving out His perfect plan for your life.

Isn’t it always true that our weariness in waiting typically comes from us seeking what we want as opposed to seeking what He would want for us?

If instead we could decide to embrace the beautiful promise that God is fully able to do more than we can ask or imagine, the waiting might be easier.

Just like Zechariah and Elizabeth’s story. They were longing for a child of their very own. For years it seemed this would never come to pass. Prayer after prayer only led to one barren season after another. Not only were the unmet dreams of loving a new baby heartbreaking, but they also were left feeling forgotten and hopeless at their ages. However, as their story unfolds after years of waiting, miracles happen.

Isn’t it beautiful how God’s plan for their story was so much better?

Their son would play a part in this miraculous Christmas story like none other. A baby born to be filled with the Holy Spirit. One to bring back the lost to God. Going before the Lord to make ready a people prepared for Him. Yes, he wasn’t just any baby. He was more than they could have ever imagined.

No, we can’t be certain at the end of every season of waiting will be this kind of miracle, but we can be certain that while we are waiting, God is always working.

Let’s not lose hope when we serve such a great God.

A Father who sees us and cares about every little thing in our lives.

Praising Him in the pause could open our eyes to see His precious hand molding the perfect plan for us. Not our plan necessarily, but His plan. Which is always so much better! Wrapped in love, hope, understanding and wisdom.

Whatever it is we are waiting on, let’s just wait with God in this season. Trusting the One who sent His Son to live and die for us. So we might fully live even while we wait.

Sweet Jesus. One worth waiting on.

Holy Father, Remind us in our seasons of waiting that you are working. Thank you for story after story in your word that reveals your perfect plans unfolding after long periods of waiting. Keep us close, Father as we seek more of you in seasons of disappointments and lost hope. We know that your plans for us are always for our good. May we live as if we know. We thank you for this beautiful season of Advent. Draw us near to you as we wait patiently to celebrate the greatest gift for all mankind. Jesus. In His name we humbly ask these things. Amen.

“Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’”
{Luke 1-11-17}
Advent 2016