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Good things come to those who wait. I have heard this line from a poem by Violet Fane all my life, especially when I was eager for something to happen and it seemed to be taking a long time.
So, what does this phrase actually mean? Probably that people who wait patiently are typically rewarded and often achieve their desires and goals.
Contrary to our culture which encourages us to rush toward Christmas, Advent calls us to slow down, even stop and wait.
We are told that we are “to wait” 139 times in the Bible. What is this waiting like or about?
An example of waiting in the Bible is the story of Abraham and Sarah. They waited well past Sarah’s childbearing years for the birth of their son Isaac. Their waiting was purposeful. Isaac’s son, Jacob, is the line through which Jesus was born many years later.
Fast forward hundreds of years to Zechariah and Elizabeth who waited a long time for their son John to be born. John’s testimony paved the way for people to recognize Jesus when he came.
For people of faith, waiting is different from just waiting and hoping something will happen. We have the confidence that something good can and will happen because we “wait on God, or with God” who is the designer of the good things for which we wait.
Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong; and let your heart take courage.” During this season of Advent, we wait. And we wait with confidence, knowing that our waiting is purposeful and our hopes will be realized.
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