Waiting is a common – and usually unwelcome – experience. We certainly dislike waiting for the results of lab tests or phone calls, but even waiting for good things frustrates us. Our minds fix on what we do not have yet, making us unable to enjoy what we do have. Doing that is a waste of the precious, limited commodity of time. We fuss over unknowns, allowing our perceived lack to consume our minds. While we wait, precious moments of time pass unnoticed.
That is not true for God; He is both timeless and yet, wholly present. For we earth-bound creatures, time is often a burden and pain. We complain of not having enough time and complain when time passes too slowly in periods of waiting. From God’s perspective, though, each moment we call time is but a thread in His eternal plan. Today is simply a vibrant piece of His story. Like a page in a classic novel, the richness of today has no empty spaces but builds to the perfect conclusion. The victory of Christ concludes our stories. So, how do we learn to resist letting time slip away while we ‘wait’ in faith?
The season of Advent helps us grasp the concept! Choosing to use the days before Christmas to focus our hearts and minds on the loving plan of God revealed at Christmas is the key to ‘waiting’ well. It applies to much more than Christmas! Waiting is not wasted when the coming of the King is our confident hope.
Waiting becomes worship when we have the right perspective. Remembering that before God spoke the first word of Creation, He knew the joy of Bethlehem, the suffering of Calvary and the glory of the resurrection boggles our minds. The Masterpiece designed from and for eternity is complete in Him; today is one vibrant scene in the weaving–we must not miss it!
Looking at the Artist, seeing His perfection assures us of the outcome. A sweet hymn sings what our hearts cry, “What a strange way to save the world.” Yet we rejoice that His ways are not ours for His ways are perfect. His timing is not ours, and again, we trust His perfection. With our eyes focused on His presence, the tyranny of time cannot disrupt us.
Christmas centers our hearts on the love of God and the promise of His presence. But Christmas must not be confined to December 25th. In reality, the focused anticipation of Christmas is applicable every day of the year. His ways are always perfect. His purposes assured. Wait with worship and enjoy His presence every day!
Heartsong Ministries 