Waiting, waiting, waiting,…no one likes waiting.  Waiting for things or someone to get better.  Waiting for reconciliation from a broken relationship.  Waiting for that diagnosis from the doctor.  Waiting for answer to prayer.  Waiting for the grief you feel of a loved one that passed away not to hurt so much.  Waiting for that perfect job.  Waiting for your soul mate.  Waiting for college to be over so you can pursue that vocation.  Waiting to go on that much needed vacation.  Waiting for that long awaited arrival of family or friends.  Waiting for that retirement, so close, yet so far.  Waiting in line at a restaurant.  Waiting on the phone when you’ve been put on hold.  Waiting for a thrill ride at seaworld (Mako) to be over and hoping you will live to tell about it!  Waiting to lose some weight or get in shape.

Waiting for…(you fill in the blank).  We are all waiting on something or someone at one time or another.  Waiting, in hopeful anticipation is just part of life.  In terms of the Christmas story, the prophet Isaiah foretold of the coming Messiah over 700 years prior to His coming - waiting for the promise. “Where is the promise of His coming” (2 Pet.3:4) some scoff at His second coming.  In the parable of the parodical son, as told by Jesus in the gospel of Luke (15) the father was waiting for his rebellious son to come home.  Waiting is not only hard, but Proverbs says that “hope deferred makes the heart sick” (13:12).

“Defer” means to put off to a later time or postpone.  When you and I are hoping for something, we typically want it now, we don’t want to put it off for later.  What are you waiting for?  If you are a Christian (Christ follower), I encourage you to wait on the Lord in your waiting - yes, do your part, but then wait and trust on His sovereignty in all matters of life and death.  We are people of faith that can trust in His word - “…though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Hab.2:3).

If you have not come to Jesus Christ, I encourage you to wait no longer - do it today!  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16)!

Pastor Rodney