December, as a Christian, is a time of waiting for the coming of Christ. His birth date is quickly approaching. We go to church and hear sermons preached around the arrival of our coming King. Children have a hard time waiting for the wonderful day to arrive, perhaps more interested in the gifts under the tree than the impending celebration of Jesus’ birth. We try to teach them, to help them understand that Christ died for each one of us, so we might enjoy the gift of “life” to the fullest on this earth. Rather like those children looking more toward the gifts than the “Gift,” I quite frankly don’t think we humans are very good at waiting.

Interesting days, these are. I find myself waiting too. Waiting for more understanding. For more filling up. For an end to uncomfortable portions of my life that seem to linger longer than I’d like. I’m tired of waiting for things God promised in His Word which haven’t come through for me yet. Really Lord? I have to wait some more? Really?

I’m becoming aware of the many places in my life where I long to experience Christ’s presence more fully, for my Savior’s promise and deliverance of too many things in my life. What can I do to hurry them up? Nothing. Oh drat, there is nothing at all I can do that will hurry them along, bring them any sooner, help me get there! And so I wait.

Wait. The word “wait” defined, as a noun, means a state or attitude of watchfulness and expectancy. As a verb, it means to remain stationary in readiness or expectation; to be ready and available; to remain temporarily neglected or unrealized. Oh, now some life springs up. I hadn’t thought about the word wait as a verb, an action word. Waiting isn’t static or passive, it is a state of readiness, being alert and watchful, full of anticipation and yet, willing to be patient. Patient? That might need a little work.

How about you? Are you waiting with expectancy, things temporarily neglected or unrealized? All these words imply something is going to happen. How are you doing with this aspect of our faith? I don’t do so well quite often and yet, as I’ve contemplated this today, I realize that my faith is willing to be temporarily neglected, unrealized, that I do have expectancy of Him and all His fullness of life. How? Why? Because I’ve experienced Him over and over doing the impossible in my life. He is able…to save me, to keep me from falling, to fulfill each and every promise He’s ever made concerning me.

Psalm 27:14 (NKJV)
¹⁴ Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Let’s wait together, shall we? Look for Him, expect Him, allow Him to do His best for you not only this Christmas season, but always.