When We Hate to Wait
By Ps Danny Chua
Advent calls us to wait. But waiting is hard.
Long ago, the saints of old waited. They waited for a saving. They waited for a savior. But the wait was a struggle, the wait I imagine, nearly crushed them, disoriented their faith, and descended the people of God into darkness.
Waiting is horribly difficult. For me, waiting reveals frustration. Why can’t all these problems go away, Father? You say You have all power to right wrongs, so how about doing something?
Waiting uncovers helplessness. When will You save me from my body of sin, Lord? I’m so tired of struggling in this lifetime, when will all this end, Lord?
Waiting brings to surface the pride of my flesh. I want it now, Lord, I need things to go my way. I don’t want to think about the future, why must You always get in the way of my plans for the present?
If you are struggling this Christmas season to wait for the redemption of this Creation and our broken bodies… As you realise your troubles have not evaporated at the end of another painful year, as you discover your sinful habits have not magically disappeared from wishing them away, as you see that the cracking world around has not gotten better but worse… I invite you to join in this prayer:
Father God, I long for your redemption now. I want your deliverance from this painful and broken world now. I want King Jesus to return now to right wrongs, to save me from my body of sin. I need your help now to solve all my problems and make every bad thing go away.
Lord God, I am really struggling to wait for the day Christ returns again to make things right. Why can’t He come sooner, even now?
Help me Lord – this Christmas, teach me to wait upon my Savior and my King… The One who waited upon You, trusted in Your salvation, looked beyond the pain of His suffering to the joy ahead, my Lord Jesus who could endure the present sufferings for His future glory.
Help me Lord – by Your mighty Spirit make these words true for me:
“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! (Ps 27:13-14).
Lord Jesus, You once came to a waiting, longing, desperate people. We wait for Your salvation and return again. Amen.
