Bible Passage:

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon

grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; God the only Son, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (John 1:9-18- ESV)

Supplemental Passage:

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:6-7 – ESV)

Have you ever struggled with waiting? In all truth, patience and waiting are two of the hardest seasons and attitudes to find oneself in. How fitting that the season we find ourselves in now, the season of “Advent,” literally means “to wait” or “to prepare,” derived from the Latin word “adventus”. During this season, we “await” the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ the King. No one could have seen how God’s plan was going to save us, and no one in Jesus’ time could have seen the magnitude of the event about to occur. Is there something in your life that you are waiting for? Something you are continually praying for? God’s plan is extraordinary, but for what He desires, He will make a path, just like He made a way for Jesus to be born. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13). So, it is not by our own will, but God’s for the events that occur in our life, so it is important to wait on God’s plans (those known and unknown), strive for patience while we are each in our own Advent seasons, and trust that God’s will has the best plan in mind for our lives. Even through suffering and hardship, we just need to trust it is where He wants us to go.

Two thousand years ago, in a stable not even fit for the lowest of the lo, the Savior of the World was born. Not with trumpets sounding, or grand ceremonies, but humbly in a manger, and in secret from the whole world. For as it says in the first chapter of John above, “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him” (John 1:10). So, the Israelites had been waiting so long and nearly four hundred years since the last prophet had come to them. They could have been said to have been in a season of Advent themselves, and then God decides that His Son should be born in secret, in the still and quiet. This is so fitting for the character of God we have been acquainted with. He comes to us in the still, quiet moments, with a voice whispering peace. So, just as Jesus was born in secret, this did not change the magnitude of what his birth meant. He would become the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace,” fulfilling all the law and giving us the greatest gift we could have ever received, yet not deserved- eternal salvation for those who believe in Him. During this Advent season, maybe there is something in your life that is causing much worry, but there is no need for worry, for God’s plans are sometimes fulfilled in secret and revealed at the most opportune time. But just as Jesus came to save the world, His plans will always be for good. So meet God in the quiet moments, just like Our Savior met us in a lowly manger, and take part in his “peace which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). For there is no need to worry, God has us in our Advent seasons, and he holds us when His plans are finally revealed.

During Advent season, we can see one of the greatest stories of patience and trust through the life of Jesus’ mother Mary. The truth of Jesus’ birth was revealed to her and kept secret, and for nine months she had to patiently await the birth of her son, who she knew was the Savior of the World. In her time, this would have been so significant because of the anticipation felt in the Israelite society surrounding the coming of the Messiah, especially with the Romans making their lives very difficult. However, she accepted this truth with patience and grace, and was willing to wait to see the plans God had for her, trusting not in her own will, but in that of her Father above. “The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the MOST HIGH will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God. Elizabeth, your relative, is six months pregnant with a son in her old age, People said she couldn’t have a child. But nothing is impossible for God. Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me” (Luke 1: 35-38). So, she knew what her Son would become, and she decided to patiently await his arrival. This is how we should also trust and await God’s plans for our lives. He comes to us in secret, in still places, in the quietest places, revealing the greatest plans for us. Even though we might not know what they all entail, it is important that we rely on the will of Our Father, just as Mary trusted Him with the story of her life.

So, in this Advent season, it is important to remember the magnitude of the gift given to us, the best gift ever given, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Savior of the World, who was not born in public, but quietly, in secret, to a mother who awaited his arrival patiently. God‘s plans are extraordinary, many times accomplished in ways we could not have foreseen; therefore, it is important for us to wait patiently during our own Advent seasons, just as we now await the coming of Christ the King. So, take heart and have joy, because “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…” (Isaiah 9:1). This is the promise we are given- Jesus Christ, Our Savior- and this is the promise we await patiently this week- our Messiah, who comes to bring peace to the whole world.

Patiently Waiting: Dori Soward

POWERED BY SQUARESPACE