Waiting on God

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. (Galatians 4:4-5)

I remember cutting strips of red and green construction paper. With each cut, the expectation for Christmas grew. We turned those strips of paper into a Christmas chain - each link representing days from December 1st to the much anticipated glory of Christmas morning.

Unbeknownst to me, my parents were also preparing for Christmas. They were buying presents, planning family time, and getting the house ready. Their preparation involved more work and less wonder. Christmas always involves preparation…and it always has.

Even that first Christmas required preparation. The Apostle Paul wrote, "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son…” (Galatians 4:4) Nobody knew that the Divine Christmas chain was on its last link. However, God had a plan, birthed out of love to forever change the world. God was behind the scenes, much like parents at Christmas time, making all the preparations for that first Christmas. His preparation involved 400 years of silence - “long lived the world in sin and error pining.”

Christmas reminds us that God’s promise is often a process. He promises, but doesn’t deliver right away. The journey of faith is one of learning to wait, trusting that God is behind the scenes setting the stage for the fulfillment of His promise. But just like Christmas, that promise will only be recognized at the right time…the fullness of time. So the Psalmist encourages us, “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14)

REFLECT AND RESPOND

Take a moment to consider what you are waiting on this Advent season. What might it look like for you to wait well?