Waiting

Stop.

Breathe in and say, “I wait for the Lord”. Breathe out and say, “I hope in God’s word”. Repeat as many times as you need.

Listen.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. – Psalm 130:5-6

Reflect.

In a recent conversation with a spiritual mentor, I was reminded that it’s okay to wait. We might struggle with these times that require us to be patient, to sit in the shadows, to wonder if day will ever break again. But still, there are blessings in the waiting and the silence. When we rush too quickly to the resolution and the celebration, it’s hollow. Sometimes, you just need to wait. 

The Psalms use repetition to emphasize a point. Usually, it employs a parallel repetition that states the same thing two different ways. In this passage, it’s the exact same line. The point is clear: it can be so hard to watch for the morning. Sometimes, we’d just like to skip to the end. But Advent isn’t about wearing out the joys of Christmas. Advent is about letting ourselves wait with expectation for what God will do. 

When we practice this waiting, we build hope and patience. We find a deeper and deeper well of trust on which to draw in difficult or challenging times. We know that we can wait for our God because God is faithful. Even after the longest night, God’s radiance rises.

Pray.

God, as I watch for the dawn of your Son in my life, grant me patience. Keep me faithful to you now so that I might live in faithfulness to you always. Amen.

Carry On.

Think of a loved one who is in a time of waiting for any reason. Pause and pray for them right now. Ask God to bring them hope in this long season. Write them a card of encouragement and tell them you’ve prayed.