Scripture Readings: Psalm 40, Job 19:23-27, Isaiah 40, Luke 2:25-38, Romans 8:18-27

David had to wait patiently. Job longed to see the face of his Creator. Israel longed for redemption but was told to wait upon the Lord and they would be strengthened. In Romans, creation groans with us for the full realization of the Kingdom of Christ. 

Waiting. Longing. Anticipating. Hoping. The running theme in all of these examples is that when we wait upon the Lord -hard as it may be- we will not be disappointed. In fact, we will be strengthened. Paul even writes that the Holy Spirit will aid us as we cry in waiting. 

We’re not good at waiting. We have the ability to be instantly satisfied in most ways. If we want Indian Food, we can have fresh tikka masala on on doorstep in as little as 30 minutes. (As few as two generations ago, if you wanted any kind of exotic food, you’d need a passport and a boat ticket). Need a new car? There’s vending machines for that now. Most any product can be at our homes within a day, maybe a week at most. (And that’s in extreme cases… remember how long delivery took before Amazon?) Even so, we’re not good at waiting. At red lights. At the doctor. At the mirror in our gym. Waiting is hard. 

Yet, the beginning of Advent reminds us how long God’s people anticipated the Messiah. From the beginning of Genesis (3:15); God promised a redeemer of mankind. But it took millennia for Him to show up. Several instances in the psalms does the phrase: “How long oh Lord?” show up. Maybe you and I have situations in our lives where the question: “How long, oh Lord?” is asked in anguish or sorrow or fear or frustration. 

Simeon and Anna were no strangers to waiting. Both of them believed in the promises of God. Simeon was given a special promise that he would see the Messiah. (Did you notice that the Holy Spirit was aiding Simeon in his prayers as Paul says will happen to us?) Anna had been a prophetess, and her deep faith prompted her to fast, pray, and worship in anticipation of God’s promises to Israel.