The Waiting

What's the longest you have ever had to wait for something? In the days of Amazon 2-day shipping, many of us are not used to waiting very long for anything. It is difficult to wait for the ordinary things in life because we aren't patient people, but we get frustrated when we have to wait for something we are promised to receive. If someone promises us something but then doesn't provide what we're expecting in the timeframe we had in mind, we start to get antsy. That is where we find ourselves in today's story. 

Forty days after the birth of Jesus, his parents took him to the temple in Jerusalem to present and dedicate him to the Lord. As they approached the temple, Mary and Joseph were greeted by a man named Simeon. We don't know much about him, but the Bible mentions that he was righteous, devout, and had been eagerly waiting for the arrival of God's promised Savior. We don't know how long he had been waiting, but early tradition mentioned that Simeon lived to be 113 years old. That means, if Simeon had been waiting for even just half of his life, that's over 56 years! 

How many times had Simeon questioned the validity of this promise he had received? How many times had people mocked Simeon as he grew older, continuing to wait for this promised Savior? In the waiting, God never forgot His promise to Simeon. In the waiting, God never forgets His promises to you. 

Reflect: If God invited this old man, who had been waiting for many years to see the fulfillment of God's promise - how might God be inviting you to joyfully, faithfully, and expectantly wait for the fulfillment of the promises He has made to you? If you feel frustrated in the waiting, God hasn't forgotten. 

Pray: "Forgive me, God, for the times I have not been willing to be patient. Help me to wait patiently on you today - trusting you, always to fulfill your promises to me and your church."