What Are You Waiting For?

If you'd asked me a few weeks ago what I'm waiting for, I might have said spring, or perhaps "COVID to be over." Now, I'm waiting and praying for the horrors in Ukraine to end. We're all waiting for something. It's part of the human condition.

Our scripture reading for today is from Luke 2:21-38 where Mary and Joseph bring Baby Jesus to the temple. There they meet the aged Simeon, a man who knows all about waiting. We are given very little background on Simeon, but we do know that he is a devout, old man who is waiting for God to comfort his beloved nation, Israel. We also know that the Holy Spirit has told him to go to the temple to see the Messiah. Perhaps Simeon has waited his entire adult life for this one moment. Now, as he holds Jesus in his frail arms, Simeon sees the One who will indeed comfort Israel, and he blesses God's faithfulness in letting him meet His Holy Son.

I'm deeply convicted by this story. It's so easy for me to pray for something a few times and then give up, assuming God will just keep saying no. Simeon reminds me that we cannot give up if we feel that God is calling us to pray. Maybe He keeps bringing a person to your mind. Or you have a situation where you know you need God's hand to be at work. Maybe, like me, you feel burdened to cry out for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, but you're discouraged as every news report seems to show things going from bad to worse. Whatever it is, let's not give up. Let's keep praying and waiting and hoping. Let's be like Simeon, believing that one day we, too, will see the fulfillment of our prayers.

Lenten Scripture Reading: Luke 2:21-38

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