We are waiting - March 2008

We've had a long cold winter in the Midwest; it's late March and we are waiting for decent weather. We long for sunshine and warmth.

John and Amanda were waiting for their first baby; she was late. And then when she arrived late last week, she needed help breathing for a day or so. They had to wait to hold her. Now they are waiting to take her home from the hospital. Before they know it, they'll be waiting for her to go to kindergarten. And then to college.

Some feel estranged from someone they would like to be close to, yet they wait. They wait for the other person to make the first move or for feelings to heal or just for time to put some distance between them and their hurt. Let us pray that they don't wait until feelings are so hardened and locked in stone that healing cannot happen.

We are young and we wait for freedom.

We are raising our children and we wait for our lives to slow down a little.

We are middle-aged and we wait for our children to be independent.

We are sick and we wait to be well again.

So much of our lives consist of waiting. Jesus waited too, while in the Garden. But as he waited, he called on his father. He prayed. He invited his friends to be with him.

Yes, we wait. We wait because we are human. But we can turn our longings and our waiting into something bigger, both by remembering to enjoy where we are in our life right now, and by looking forward to a different reality in the future. And the biggest reality for Christians is waiting for God.

Sometimes God seems quiet in our lives, sometimes very active. Yet, no matter our current state of emotions or feelings, God is there. God remains constant. It is US that is doing the moving.

May all your waiting be hopeful and mindful that Jesus has already risen. God has won the battle over death and all we need to do is to accept His promise.

This article was submitted by Mary

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