What are you waiting for?

The month of December brings excitement, busyness, Christmas parties, shopping, baking, gift wrapping and oh so many more things that help us wait expectantly to celebrate the birth of Christ. Kids count down with eager anticipation the number of days left until Christmas morning when they can tear into their presents. As adults we love watching their excitement and experience the child-like wonder through their eyes.

It makes me wonder, Do I wait with eager anticipation for God to fulfill a promise in my life? Do I wait expectantly for him to answer a seemingly impossible prayer?

What about you my friend? What prayer are you waiting on God to answer? Do you have the promise of a fulfilled dream yet to be realized? Are you waiting for restoration of your marriage, the job offer from a recent interview, your baby to sleep through the night, a child to turn from their poor choices?

When we find ourselves continuing in the wait it’s easy to be discouraged by yet another year of unanswered prayer and unmet dreams. But friend, can I share something with you?

God wants to meet you in this time of waiting expectantly. Like Elizabeth experienced her baby leaping in her womb at the presence of her Lord when Mary visited her (Luke 1:41-44), God wants you to experience His blessings because you believe that what the Lord has said will be accomplished.

Will you sit with me quietly, in His Presence, while we look at three different examples of waiting for God’s Promise to be fulfilled in Luke 1:5-80?

Skeptical Waiting

For years Zechariah and Elizabeth waited for the privilege and honor of becoming parents but despite doing “all the right things” their arms remained empty. With each passing year the likelihood of their dream being realized dimmed. Until… God’s divine appointment between Zechariah and the Angel Gabriel.

While Zechariah performed his Priestly duties in the Temple of the Lord, Gabriel, an Angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah and said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.” Luke 1:13.

How would you respond when coming face to face with an Angel while performing your duties at work? Surprised? Afraid? Shocked? Excited? As much as I hate to admit it I may be just like Zechariah, “startled and gripped with fear”. But Gabriel assured him with a message from the Lord. It’s at this point where I hope my response would be different from Zechariah’s.

Despite being a man of God he was still gripped with doubt and skepticism asking Gabriel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” Luke 1:18. Gabriel gave Zechariah the clarification he was looking for but because of Zechariah’s unbelief he would be silent until the proper time when God fulfilled His promise.

Curious Wonder

Picture with me, a young girl between the ages of 12-13 diligently performing her daily chores of cooking and cleaning when an angel appears to her saying, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:28. Like you would expect, Mary was “greatly troubled…and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.” Luke 1:29.

Can you image being in the middle of unloading your dishwasher and suddenly an Angel appearing before you with greetings from the Lord? There might just be broken glass to sweep up after this encounter in our house.

But gently Gabriel comforted Mary and said, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” Luke 1:30,31. And then sweet Mary’s wonder-filled response, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” Luke 1:34.

Mary wasn’t questioning whether what Gabriel said would happen or not. She was filled with curiosity and wonder and asked for more details which Gabriel graciously gave her. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:35,37.

Then Mary in humble obedience responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” Luke 1:38.

Blind Faith

Quickly, in excitement Mary hurried to her cousin’s home. Upon hearing Mary’s greeting the baby in Elizabeth’s womb lept and she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.” Luke 1:42-45.

Elizabeth didn’t receive a visit from Gabriel but she immediately recognized the presence of the Lord in her life and responded in praise. Can you and I say our natural response would be like that of Elizabeth’s? Are we so in-tuned with the Lord that we immediately recognized His work in our lives?

How will we respond in our time of waiting?

 In this passage we see three different responses in a time of waiting.

Skeptical waiting

Zechariah responded with skepticism, doubt and unbelief which led to silence in the waiting.

Curious Wonder

Mary responded with curious wonder asking questions for clarity which led to excitement and experiencing God’s movement in her life.

Blind Faith

Elizabeth responded with blind faith, trust and praise which led to her experiencing the sweet presence of the Lord.

As you wait on God to answer your prayers, fulfill dreams, or restore a relationship how are waiting? Are you like Zechariah skeptically waiting, Mary filled with curious wonder or Elizabeth with blind faith?

In His Calm,