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The day has finally arrived in our time of advent where we begin the journey to meet Jesus. Over the next 31 days we will begin to prepare our hearts and truly understand His purpose of coming to Earth to fulfill our heart and desires.
Note: This is not my devotional or book – I am using Daily Grace Co’s Waiting for Advent Study and am merely providing my commentary around it during this time of Advent.
We start this journey meditating on what it means to wait… so let’s dive right in!
Psalm 18:30-36 is a great reminder of how waiting and anticipation can be wonderful time spent with Jesus.
Paraphrased it says that the Lord’s timing is perfect and everything that He promises are true. He protects us, He strengthens us, He keeps us safe, He prepares us, He has provided salvation to us and His right hand supports us. WOW.
That last part – His right hand. The right hand signifies strength and is used in the Bible 166 times. In Isaiah 41:13, it says: For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; I am the One who says to you, “Fear not, I am here with you. The right hand is also symbolized throughout scripture as having authority and power (Ephesians 1:20-21).
Obviously, having Jesus’ right hand to support us is important. He is using all of his power, his authority, and his strength to teach us, grow us, protect us. It doesn’t say left hand, or big toe, or even His angels… it says God’s right hand. God is never giving us second best, He gives us THE BEST.
I love that symbolism in vs. 36 that even though we might not know God’s plans for our life, His plans are perfect and He is strengthening us with His right hand during this waiting peri
What are you waiting for?
We are all waiting for something. Some of us are waiting for a new job, a baby, a friend, but if you are like me, you are in this waiting period called singleness. Sometimes it seems like a journey that will never end. But then I am reminded that singleness isn’t just about waiting for a husband or wife, it is actually a season of life that is ordained by God for everyone with a much broader, grander purpose. This time of singleness is just that TIME. It gives me the opportunity to spend more time linking arms with Jesus and focusing my thoughts on his redemptive, life-giving, and beautiful story He has written for me.
Waiting is one of the hardest things to do in our human life. It is a conscious shift from this mindset and it is a shift that requires patience (Psalm 40:1) and trust in a God that can do more than we can ever imagine (Ephesians 3:20). It is a shift in thinking. Our earthly attitude desires control and order that can be understood and explained.
But when Jesus is in control – sometimes faith is the only rock on which to stand.
You see – waiting is very common when it comes to faith. Constantly, the authors in the Bible refer to Waiting for the Lord. (Isaiah 26:8, Psalm 27:13, Lamentations 3:5, James 5:7-8 Need I go on?) Two millennium after Jesus died we are still waiting for His return. In the middle of waiting for the Lord, patience can become somewhat elusive, I’m not sure about you – but when I want something done… patience is not what get’s it done, my own selfish desires get it done. In those moments of weakness we need to recalibrate the focus gravitating back towards these promises that Jesus has given us – that His way is perfect and He has protected us and will protect us.
These moments of waiting in our life could actually be powerful opportunities to shift back to Him. Because when we shift our thinking to the Lord, our attitude shifts too.
During this time of advent I pray that your attitude begins to shift. That Jesus comes in and recks shop, your faith grows, and this waiting period that has been exhausting and treacherous will be life-giving and fruitful because of the trust you now have in God’s perfect plan. After all, for centuries they waited on Jesus to come, and then after all of that waiting… under a sky full of stars, in a trough that animals ate out of… He came in the most perfect form – a baby. A baby that would save the world.
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