watching and waiting
She posted herself at the front door, waiting and ready for her classmates to arrive.
The event started at 9:00 and by 9:25 my stomach was in knots. I’d received a handful of last-minute cancellations, and I had no clue who would actually come.
Or when they’d arrive.
It made no difference to me that I’d planned ahead, cleaned the house, purchased food, and stayed up far too late the night before making preparations for a crowd. We could eat the snacks and enjoy a tidy house on our own. I cared far more about her feelings, and if no one happened to show up, I wasn’t sure how I’d address her broken heart.
“Lord, please let at least one friend make it today.” I uttered a silent prayer and assured her someone would eventually arrive.
She rocked back in forth, eyes on the street, until a car finally pulled into the driveway.
Our answer was here.
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” – Luke 2:25-32
God’s people prayed for deliverance over and over and over again. And between the pages of the Old Testament and the New Testament, God’s silence stretched for 400 years. Yet there were still people watching and waiting on this promised Deliverer.
When would he come?
How would he arrive?
How much longer would it take?
The same questions we still ask today as we keep watch and wait.
We don’t have the details, either, just the assurance that our preparation is not in vain. Neither is the passing time.
Because the Messiah who came then will come again.
He is still the answer to our prayers.
