God’s Promise, Isaiah 40:31

Isaiah 40: 31 NKJV

31 But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Psalm 37: 13, 14 NIV

I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.

14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Do you know of a child that’s patient in the wait for a promised item or event?  Neither do I.  My experience is that as soon as I committed, my child equated the promise with immediate gratification.  Often, it wasn’t for their Best to instantly appease them.  As they waited, they would moan, groan, nag and plead for me to hurry and remember my promise.  That led to many character-building opportunities for both the child and parent!

Of course, adults are guilty too.  We grab onto God’s promises with gusto.  “The Truth will set you free!” (John 8:32) But we find ourselves still trapped in the routine stresses, unmet expectations, failures, and frustrations waiting for freedom.  Did God forget?  We wonder.

We’re not the first.  Throughout time, God’s children have experienced the Wait of His promises.  Even those foretelling of Christ’s Redemption included the Wait through growing tumult.

God’s promise through Isaiah (Isaiah 11:1) “then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit” was such a promise.  An assurance of help and hope, the craved victory!  But its fulfillment was to be realized long after the family tree was felled.  A mere stump jeering, causing hopeless regret.  Then, more waiting as the sprout grew.  After all, it takes time for a sprout, (or baby?) to grow in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52) before yielding the victory desperately needed.  Waiting.  Ugh.  WHY, GOD, must we always wait?!

What if life’s path is an Advent meant to be more than “just” preparing for an event, a celebration of what has already happened?  Maybe Advent is becoming aware of His presence and preparing for fulfillment of His promises?  A journey of observing His presence in His provisions along the way?  An Advent resulting in strengthened faith.

Like my children, I am often so preoccupied with my plight (the irritations, stresses and disappointments of today) that I fail to perceive His provisions in the Wait.  Frustration, doubt, or a sense of hopelessness are red flags to cause me to pause.  To pause and remember:  look for His continual small blessings in the Wait.  And know hope, for He keeps His promises.

Would you pause with me today?  Let’s set aside our plights and perceive together the evidence of His presence during this Advent.

ETS