In our world today, we can’t wait for the “next thing,” whatever that may be. Right now, it’s obviously holiday season, and this is a great example. People began decorating for Christmas in October, because they couldn’t wait. We have DVRs, so we can skip commercials. We have online shopping and shipping, so we don’t have to wait in lines. People hate waiting behind a slow vehicle, so sometimes they blow their horns, or speed around them. We couldn’t wait until lockdown was over. We wanted a fix immediately. The world seems to be a hurry all the time. But what does it really hurt to wait?
In Luke, we read about the prophetess Anna, in Luke 2:36-38: “There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.”
Anna had been in the temple praying for years waiting. Years! If we assume she married young, because that was the nature then, she was married only 7 years before he passed away, she was potentially praying in the temple for around 60 years at least. Waiting. And praying. Not rushing ahead with life. Not trying to make things work in her way. Not trying to follow her plan because God’s seemed to be moving too slow. She waited. There was a man named Simeon we read about in Luke 2:25 who also waited. Simeon was a “ righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel.” He was promised not to see death until he saw the Messiah. So he waited.
Waiting can purify our desires. Instead of first jumping onto what we think we need or want, if we wait, we might truly get a glimpse of what is underneath, what our heart truly longs for. If we become more aware of our hearts during our waiting, we might see attachments in our lives, and realize we are able to surrender those attachments. Once we can do that, we are more able to receive all that God wants to give us.
With some of our prayers, God has to work a miracle in our lives as well as someone else’s. Just because our hearts are ready, doesn’t mean the other person’s is. They may not be ready to accept change, or be ready to cooperate with his plane. Or we may truly not be ready to accept change that we desire because of our own selfishness, sinfulness, or immaturity. This can become frustrating, especially if you see a similar prayer being answered in someone else’s life. Do not let yourself become tired and leave the waiting portion to try to make things happen for yourself. Do not let doubt fill your hearts. We need to listen in our hearts as well as our minds. God will provide.
Because Simeon waited he was granted the gift to see the Messiah. Because Anna waited, she received the gift she was wanting. We can learn so much from Simeon and Anna. They teach us to never leave, to stay still as we wait Keep tight to your faith. God is working. Be still, and wait. Just as the world awaited the coming of the Messiah. Just as each year we should wait and celebrate Jesus’s birth, the light he brought into the world, the true meaning of Christmas.
