Waiting In Eager Expectation

Waiting is perhaps the hardest thing to do.

I consider myself a largely patient person – though I must qualify that statement. Maybe I should say, “when I personally don’t feel in a hurry, I am a largely patient person.” If I am at the grocery store by myself and not with the kids, I am content to get into any line, no matter the length, and look condescendingly at those who are frustrated by the long lines and inconsiderate shoppers who get their checkbook out after the total is announced. Likewise, when my drive home is not rushed by the need to get dinner cooked or to relieve my wife from a hard day with two maniac children, I am content to waive as passersby, allowing people to merge when they should have waited and pass when there wasn’t enough room. Yes, my life is a peaceful, patient coexistence when I am not in a hurry for something. However, flip the tables, and I am an out of control machine! Suddenly, that leisurely trip to the store becomes more of a stampede and shootout at the OK Coral than an exhibition of my grace and candor. And that drive home – well, suffice it to say that many laws get broken and even more motorists offended when I am rushed. For me, patience is not a virtue as much as it is a convenience.

Last week, my daughter had an MRI. This was no ordinary MRI (as few are), as it was to reveal whether or not she was going to have perilous brain surgery. Needless to say, I was anxious about the outcome and would not be patient about waiting for the news. The MRI was on Wednesday, and we were promised the results the next day. Thursday came and went without a call. When Friday afternoon had also passed, my patience had worn thin. I was a wreck! Saturday and Sunday went by silently, and the reality that I was waiting on important news began to dissipate. By Monday morning, there was a renewed sense of urgency, but as my morning workday progressed, I once again began to forget about what I was waiting on. Then, with no warning, the phone rang at 1:00pm. I answered it nonchalantly, only to hear my wife ecstatic on the other end of the line. “No surgery,” she cried, and at once, I remembered what I had been waiting on for so many days. Emotions flooded me, and I was overwhelmed with the answer we’d been given!

The Scriptures tell us that world had been waiting in eager expectation for the Son of Man to be revealed. And, at just the right time, Jesus came into the world to rescue the souls of men from the law and certain spiritual death. His coming was a matter of patience. He had been foretold by numerous prophets century after century – but he never came. It might be fair to say that many had forgotten that a Messiah was even coming at all. Then, just as an unannounced phone call, the Light of the World stepped down into darkness, and opened the eyes of the world to his marvelous light.

As we celebrate the birth of the Christ-child in our worship, let us be reminded of the promise that came not only through him to us, but to the whole world – and that God has an excellent record of keeping his promises. It is up to us remain patient and maintain an eager expectation of what God will do.

Resonate Themes
Birth of Jesus
Praise to Emmanuel
Adoration
Expectation