Waiting – {Advent}

“It will be said on that day, ‘Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.’   Ïsaiah 25:9

I recently found myself sitting in a hospital café waiting. Marking time till an appointment was over. The duration of my time in the café was the length of the appointment. But as I sat there in the café sipping my coffee and reading a book I had taken along, I realised that I could change my perspective. Was I waiting? Or having time out? Was this actually a breather in a busy day, a busy week? Was perhaps the waiting good for me?

Advent is about waiting – anticipating the fulfilment of Jesus’ promise that He will come again. As the Christmas countdown hurtles on we have the opportunity in this season to step back from the busyness, the pace and embrace the waiting.

Waiting though in present day society is anything but embraced. We want it all and we want it all now. Waiting is something we avoid where possible. It seems negative or passive.

But Advent celebrates the waiting.

And in the waiting we find peace.