Waiting for Christmas
Photo image courtesy of Unsplash
“ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” – Lamentations 3:25-26 (NKJV)
For little children, December is an unbearably long month.
Christmas trees glisten in windows, wreaths hang on doorways, and carolers croon as the heavenly aromas of warm cookies waft from ovens. But none of these make the wait any easier for kids.
“How long until Christmas?” their voices dismally wail. “When will it get here?”
It gets worse when they dash to the toy aisles in stores. Towering shelves of dolls, model cars, bicycles, games, and sporting goods unleash an intense desire for Christmas Day to arrive...right away!
As we grow up, though, our anticipation evolves. Dreams change. Our family traditions shift with new relationships, loss of loved ones, moves, and more. Our gift-shopping focuses on a wish to make others happy.
The wait is different, too. Expectations become more realistic. A long-planned “picture perfect” gathering gets canceled by illnesses or travel problems...or worse, by family conflicts.
Sadness sets in when the Christmas we desired fails to materialize. Our hopes and dreams are cracked like ice gathering on mud puddles. The wait becomes a heavy burden.
More than 2,000 years ago, the Israelites experienced the same kind of mournful longing for Jesus. For centuries, God continually promised He would send them a Deliverer, sparking hopes of His imminent arrival. But when Malachi, the last of the prophets, spoke of the coming of the “Son of Righteousness,” the people of God had no way of knowing that 400 years of silence lay ahead.
They, too, wailed. “How long do we suffer, O Lord? How long until the Messiah arrives?”
The Israelites ached for God’s gift of redemption. They wanted to be free from the captivity of their oppressors. Even more, they yearned to be released from their sins, to know God’s overwhelming love in His mercy.
Has your own wait for Christmas this year been unbearably long? Do you dread enduring a hopeless Christmas? Have your dreams been boxed up and put back in the attic, or never carried down at all?
Oh, friend, there is still time for joy! Christmas morning isn’t about opening gift bags or eating cookies or taking social-media pictures. It’s a day to welcome Jesus, to renew your relationship with Him, to let Him fill your heart with His love, to give you His freedom in forgiveness.
Whether you find yourself alone in a crowd or on your own, call upon Jesus. He is only a heartbeat-prayer away. Ask Him to tell you again about His banner of love over You, how He plans to share His home with you in heaven.
He stands knocking on your door right now, offering to spend the rest of your life with you.
May you open the door today to welcome Him into your home and heart. Feast with Him, to celebrate His birthday and presence. May this year bring you incredible happiness in living abundantly, peacefully with Him.
And you don’t have to wait.
Questions for Reflection:
1. What emotions or attitudes are keeping you from a joyful Christmas Day?
2. If Jesus were sitting at your table, how would He want you to celebrate His birthday with Him?
3. How can you share the gifts of His blessings with others?
