The Advent Season is actually all about waiting. Waiting for the light of the world to come. Waiting for a breakthrough in this sinful world. Waiting for hope to come in the midst of experiencing pain. Waiting for Jesus.
- Mary & Joseph waited for nine months to see their newborn baby
- Zechariah and Elizabeth waited tirelelssly into their old age to have a child. And then Zechariah had to wait around until he saw baby Jesus to be able to speak again!
- Centuries of prophets and believers before us waited for the coming Messiah and salvation of the Lord.
- Simeon and Anna, two devout individuals who spent years in the Temple in Jerusalem, faithfully waiting and praying for the arrival of the Messiah, recognizing baby Jesus when he was presented.
Waiting can make us feel really uncomfortable.
There 2 realities about waiting:
1.) Waiting brings self-examination. It is NOT a passive action. Waiting does not mean stalled, it means stillness. There is activity in being still. Anybody who stops and waits for a moment knows there is activity in being still. Where is the activity? OUR HEART. OUR MIND.
Waiting forces us to be present to the activity of our mind and heart. This is why people so often hate waiting. What do we automatically do when waiting in line at the store or sitting on the train? Phone. Distract. Disassociate. Being present to our heart and mind can be scary because: 1.) There are things we don’t like about ourselves, 2.) We are discontent with how our life is going, 3.) There is pain and disappointment we are avoiding feeling.
But there is good news. There is light in the midst of that discomfort and pain.
2.) Waiting brings intimacy. Remember what was just said– waiting does not mean stalled, it means stillness. And the Lord OFTEN calls us into stillness with Him. And stillness, if we fully embrace it, can be an avenue for us to be fully present to the presence of God. Waiting gives us time to not only examine ourselves, but to actively examine who he is. We get the chance to turn our eyes to him, really look at him, and remember the Light of the World. We get to remember His character, strength, peace, love, and we get to HEAR his healing voice that calls out to us so gently.
It’s almost funny, because the Christmas season gets BUSIER, at least for me! Our calendars are filled to the brim. So in a time of craziness, noise, Christmas songs, lights… Let’s pause and wait just like Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, the prophets, David, and so many others have done.
1. Becoming Present
MEDITATION
Let’s take a moment to settle our bodies. You may want to place both feet on the floor, hands open on your lap.
Gently close your eyes.
There’s nothing you need to do right now. Nothing to fix. Nothing to perform.
Just to be here.
(Pause 30 seconds)
As we enter this time of waiting, we remember the words of Scripture:
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
(Psalm 46:10)
Stillness is not inactivity.
Stillness is attention.
Stillness is presence.
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2. Noticing the Activity Within
As you sit in this stillness, simply begin to notice what is happening inside you.
Thoughts may come.
Emotions may surface.
Restlessness, peace, distraction, heaviness, longing.
There is no need to judge what you notice.
No need to push anything away.
Just notice.
Scripture tells us:
“For God alone my soul waits in silence.”
(Psalm 62:1)
Waiting brings us face to face with our own hearts.
And God is not afraid of what you find there.
(Pause 1 minute)
If something uncomfortable rises—
a disappointment,
a sadness,
a frustration,
a place of discontent—
simply acknowledge it.
You might quietly pray:
“Lord, I see this.”
“Lord, you see this.”
(Pause 1 minute)
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3. Waiting Is Trust
Listen to these words:
“The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.”
(Lamentations 3:25–26)
Waiting is not wasted time.
Waiting is trust practiced slowly.
As you sit, imagine yourself placing whatever you are waiting for into God’s hands.
A situation.
A relationship.
A decision.
A breakthrough you long for.
You don’t need to explain it to Him.
He already knows.
(Pause 1 minute)
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4. Turning Our Attention to God
Now, gently shift your attention away from what you are waiting for, and toward who you are waiting with.
Listen to this Scripture:
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope.”
(Psalm 130:5)
Bring to mind the character of God.
His faithfulness.
His gentleness.
His strength.
His nearness.
Advent reminds us that God does not rush past human pain— He enters it.
(Pause 1 minute)
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5. Listening
The Bible says that we are all able to hear the voice of God.
In 1 Kings, we see that God speaks to Elijah through a gentle whisper. In order to hear someone whisper, it requires proximity. Jesus is close to you now. I think that’s why God came to Elijah in a whisper, to show that when he speaks, and does so intimately. Closely.
For the next few moments, we simply listen.
Not forcing words.
Not chasing thoughts.
If a gentle phrase, image, or sense of peace comes, receive it.
If nothing comes, that is okay too.
Waiting itself is the prayer.
(Long pause – 2 minutes)
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6. Hope in the Waiting
Listen to these final words:
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.”
(Isaiah 40:31)
Waiting renews us—not because the waiting is easy, but because God meets us there.
As we come to a close, let’s remember again the One for whom all those before us were waiting:
“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end.”
(Isaiah 9:6–7)
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Closing Prayer
Lord,
Teach us to wait well.
To be still without fear.
To trust without rushing.
And to recognize Your presence with us
Amen.
Audrey Wells 