Waiting.
Waiting is part of life, a necessary rhythm to the ebb and flow of activity and hopeful anticipation of what is to come. Waiting is not always easy, though. Most of us are busy with the routines and responsibilities of life but are also waiting for other *things* to happen in our lives. The other things are usually ones that we cannot control ourselves. They are held in the balances, or at bay, by others. It is up to someone else’s time when they happen. We can’t hurry them up or make them happen. Goodness knows we may have tried to hurry up situations. It usually does not work so well. There are seasons and times that are held by Him who sees and knows all. His time is always best.
So I think of waiting this season as many are using advent calendars to countdown to Christmas day and when the children can open their packages and family and friends gather to celebrate life and our Lord.
I thought of Simeon in the Bible who waited for the appearing of Jesus. Luke 2 in the NIV tells Simeon’s story:
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord” ),
24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
In his waiting Simeon was:
Righteous and devout
The Holy Spirit was on him
The Holy Spirit revealed information to him
The Holy Spirit moved him
He went into the temple courts
He took Jesus in his arms
He praised God
He saw his salvation
He prophesied the future
He blessed others
I want to be like Simeon in my waiting.
I picked up some lilies this week and I picked the ones that most represented my life. A couple have really bloomed and are absolutely gorgeous and fragrant, but there are many unopened blooms – blooms that will become beautiful and fragrant lilies.
I am waiting.
So like Simeon, who is looking to and holding baby Jesus, I too am looking toward Him and holding lilies – expecting blooms in His time and finding beauty in the waiting.
Waiting also makes me think of the song by Charles Wesley:
- “Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart. - Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.”
I pray that in your waiting, you find Him whom your soul longs for and the beauty that He can bring to waiting.
Christmas! Merry Christmas! Christ is with us!
Behold my eyes have seen my salvation. I pray you see salvation, too.
“Behold My Eyes Have Seen My Salvation” 1935 from my own art collection, a family treasure from my Grandmother Beatrice.