A Waiting Fulfilled

As we get closer to Christmas I’m reminded of the waiting that was involved prior to Jesus’ birth.  In the Bible, between the old and new testament there were 400 years of silence (called the Intertestamental Period).  This was the period of time between the last prophet of the Old Testament (Malachi) and the first prophet of the New Testament (John the Baptist).  There were no new prophetic revelations or scripture during this time.  I imagine there was great expectation while God’s people waited for the silence to be broken and the Messiah to come.  I would also imagine that even in this great expectation the reality of waiting was difficult.  No one likes waiting and it always seems to last longer than we’d hope for.

That’s a similar pattern I’ve noticed in my own life too.  Through various trials in my life I’ve come to learn that although waiting is hard and the realities of my current circumstances might seem difficult, that God is faithful while we wait.  And that through His Word and His Spirit within us we can speak words of hope and life over our current and present moment.  Those waiting in the  Intertestamental Period had the Old Testament scriptures as their compass of hope for the future.  Scriptures such as:

• Isaiah 9:6-7 – For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.  The government will rest on his shoulders.  And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

• Isaiah 7:14 – The Lord himself will give you the sign.  Look!  The virgin will conceive a child!  She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

• Isaiah 53:10 – But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief.  Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants.  He will enjoy a long life, and the Lords’ good plan will prosper in his hands.

  
  

These scriptures must have been a source of constant comfort as they continued to wait.  And we too have scripture now in both the Old and New Testament that we can use in our seasons of waiting too such as:

• Isaiah 40:31 – But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint.

• Psalm 27:14 – Wait patiently for the Lord.  Be brave and courageous.  Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

• Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.  They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

  
  

One thing I’ve learned about waiting is that the longer you wait, the greater the joy when the wait is over.  What joy the early Believers must have felt when they heard the Good News of Jesus’ birth.  A much anticipated and long awaited arrival.  And we too can have confident hope for our future too, even while we wait.  One of my favorite scriptures puts it well.

Romans 8:28 – And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Waiting is typically never a pleasant process, but we can wait in trust knowing that God can even use our waiting for His glory and His purposes.  We can rest on the truth that He’ll work all things out for our good.

Praying that you have a very blessed Christmas season that’s full of gratitude for how God’s been faithful in your past and confident in hope of the good things He has for your future, even in the midst of any current waiting.