I have a naughty child story. Unfortunately, I was the naughty child. One birthday I asked for electric curlers (this was before electric curling irons were commonly used). I waited for my birthday to arrive, and I expected to get an electric curling set. About a week before my birthday, I announced to my parents that the curlers HAD to be electric steam curlers or I did not want them. AT ALL. My thoughtless self did not stop to think that perhaps my parents had already bought the gift, which they had. And, they were not steam curlers. My birthday arrived, and I saw my gift. In that moment, I realized how much pain I had given my parents. They wanted to bless me, and I had destroyed that blessing by insisting that I wanted what I wanted and nothing else would do. I tried to make up for my inconsiderate ways by thanking them over and over for the non-steam rollers, but I had already ruined it for them -- their downcast eyes showed me that they knew their best was not good enough for me. In the days prior to my birthday, I had clearly and loudly stated all the flaws in any other type of roller.
Maybe we need words like faith, love, and peace to surround "expectantly waiting." There is a type of waiting that blesses and a type that does not. Maybe it depends on the 5 Ws and 1 H: Who, when, where, what, why, and how.
How are we waiting? Many years after my childish incident, I was called upon to wait, and not just wait, but to wait confidently. I had been maliciously slandered and God clearly told me how to wait when, at the precise moment I needed it, my daily Bible reading was in Isaiah 30. Verses 15-16 tell how the Israelites could have chosen to wait on God, but they did not do so --
"In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."
But you would not, And you said, 'No, for we will flee on horses' --
Therefore, you shall flee! And, 'We will ride on swift horses' --
Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!
On the other hand, verse 18 tells how God waits for us:
"Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you;
And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.
For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him."
God told me to "Wait confidently." And, of course, I said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." Sigh. No. I said, "Wait confidently, Lord?! It's hard enough to wait, let alone confidently!...." Then, "Nonetheless, not my will be done, but yours"...well, sort of... I said, "Okay." Several months later, I received apologies and commendations. What I gained most of all was an enlarged view of the God I serve and what He can do through me if I let Him. Just this morning I read this in 2 Peter 3:9 -- "The Lord is not slow about his promise as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance."
In Advent, I'm preparing, but I am preparing for a remembrance and a celebration. Immanuel, God with us, Jesus, is here. I enter into His life each day as I journey through life's trials and tribulations with patience, just as Joseph and Mary did, knowing that in the kingdom of God we are safe. If a door closes behind us, He will show us the next step to take.
As I invite the Holy Spirit in and trust in Him, the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control grows. At the same time, I can choose to seek God in His word and to enjoy Him in His creation. Like Mary and Joseph, I can worship Him, and in "rest and quiet confidence" I can get my strength from Him.
Like Laubach, I can practice living in His presence: "The moment I turn to Him it is like turning on an electric current which I feel through my whole being" (3 June 1930).
Then, truly the celebration of the birth of my Savior will be a joyous one!
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