Day 31 - Patient waiting

As Christians we can easily forget that God is in control. He knows what we need, what can be done and what isn’t important. Through God we have access to a number of tools in our armour that will help us to navigate the ups and downs of life. One ‘tool’ we have is hope - hope for the present, as well as the future. Through Him all things are possible.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

As we begin Advent somehow our diary’s become fuller – Christmas Fairs, parties, other festive activities. This time of year seems to always be like that despite trying hard to not pack each day with busyness. I faced such a day, crammed full of tasks that needed to be carried out before the end of the day, and I hoped that I had the energy and the fortitude to achieve them. In preparation for the day, I sat down the night before to plan the best way to go about things to ensure that I achieved everything I needed to do.

But what do they say about the best laid plans! When I got into bed I couldn’t sleep because the list was going round in my head and I reorganised the list several times during the night, eventually falling into a fitful sleep in the early hours of the morning. The next morning, I awoke feeling exhausted and with a bad headache. Suddenly, despite my planning the list, became unachievable. I needed to rethink the day ahead and what was going to be possible given my state of health. Suddenly the priority, which had previously not been on the list, was to first get my headache under control.

What I had thought achievable the night before now seemed impossible to achieve even though I had hoped I could do it all. But that’s life. You think you have things under control, but do you? Only God has the control and only he knows the plan. Without him nothing is either certain in life and not necessarily achievable without him.

Looking back on that day what was important happened and the other things waited ‘patiently’ until another day. As we start the Advent season patient waiting is the order of the day. Patiently waiting with anticipation for the coming again of Christ. What more do we need this Advent?

Lord Jesus Christ,

Help us to remember that you are at the centre of our lives.

We come to you in prayer this Advent season,

And we await your arrival with anticipation.

Guide our words and actions

And help us to recall all that you mean to us when we meet with others.

Humble our hearts and minds,

And bring us the Hope that only you can bring.

Amen.

Kathy Shaw