Timing is everything. There is a time to weep and a time to laugh.* A little laughter sounds pretty good right about now. Seems like we are all collectively stuck, waiting for the joy of the season. When is the right time to stop waiting?
*“For everything there is a season…a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance … a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing…” Ecclesiastes 3:1-6 (ESV)
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for laughter, dancing, and I could use a great big hug. My goals for 2021 are seeing smiles, hugging, eating out and hosting a party. Oh, and wearing lipstick.
COMING
Advent means coming. Sometimes I think, “Come quickly Lord Jesus.” Other times, I yell, “Wait, Lord Jesus.”
What are you waiting for?
- A loved one to turn to Christ, or return to Him
- Hug family and eat with friends
- See your mom or dad in the nursing home
- Get rid of the face masks and the pandemic to end
- The year to be over
What will you do with your wait?
There are plenty of options. We can kick and scream and shout. Or, we can seek the Lord in prayer. Of course, we could scroll through social media, get riled up and set everyone straight. Or, we can look for opportunities to help those who are hurting financially, mentally, spiritually and emotionally.
Long for the presence of Christ in your heart. It’s the only thing truly worth waiting for.
Hope
“This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people..” 1 Timothy 4:10 (NLT)
Our only hope is in Christ. Don’t make Him wait any longer.
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:20 (NLT)
This promised meal is a banquet in Heaven, but I sure hope we can ring some doorbells and share some pizza with friends soon. Until then, remember, God allows hardship to bring us to the end of ourselves, where we depend on Him and Him alone. Throughout the Old Testament, God allowed the Israelites to be sick, captured and enslaved, but only because He had a greater purpose to accomplish. He still does.
Hope is coming, when the time is right. So quit worrying and waiting for the year to end. Instead look forward to the power of Jesus to redeem all things.
The right time to stop waiting is now
Our lives have been completely interrupted. It’s nothing new; the Bible is full of stories about how God uses those interruptions to fulfill His purposes. Sign up today for “Intermission Summit,” a fun, monthly video series.
