Waiting can often be so hard. Whether we are waiting for a semester to end, for a prayer to be answered, for a relationship or friendship to heal, or for clarity in the many decisions and directions of life, entering a season of waiting can easily lead us to feeling exhausted, uncertain, skeptical, hesitant and even hopeless – God, help our unbelief.
But, Advent teaches us that God is present in the waiting.
In Luke 1:46-55, Mary sings a song of joy, not after Jesus is born, but while she is still waiting for the promise to be fulfilled. Her joy was fully rooted in God’s faithfulness. His steadfastness, not her circumstances.
And Mary said:
Luke 1:46-55
“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
Like Mary, we can find joy by focusing on God’s promises:
- God is faithful: “The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises” (Psalm 145:13).
- God gives peace: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)
- God gives the victory: “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)
- God calls me worthy: “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7)
- God protects me: “The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:8)
- God is with me: “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves” (Zephaniah 3:17).
Is this a waiting season for you? Can I be candid? This is such an intense waiting season for me. In every aspect of my life- marriage, parenting, building my ministry through Affirmed in Christ and women’s groups speaking engagements, growing my home staging business and serving through real estate, in my profession, relationships with extended families, friendships, physical and mental health, finances, I can go on – I cannot do anything but lay all of this at the feet of Jesus. Even now as I write this I know that the answer is to lean into my relationship with God, to seek Him first. When I seek God first, that’s where I will find the peace and joy that Mary sang of – rooted in God’s promises, in His faithfulness, not my circumstances.
Ask yourself, what is it that you are waiting for? Write this down as a specific prayer and write down a promise of God that speaks to your current season. Keep it where you’ll see it daily as a reminder of His joy, love and faithfulness.
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless
1 thessalonians 5:23-24
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
Trust God. Seek Him. Be Affirmed in Christ.
Affirmed in Christ 