“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen.”
(Hebrews 11:1)
“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning....”
(Psalm 130:5-6)
“I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!
(Psalm 27:13-14)
Where there is faith, there is always expectancy.
Expectancy itself implies and requires one thing of the expectant one, namely to wait.
What is the Christian waiting for? The disciple has many and great expectations. The first, most obvious answer might be: she is waiting for God to come into the world. However, this has already happened, and happens continually. Faith believes that Jesus is present even now, and so the general answer of waiting for Jesus is meaningless to the person of faith.
Thus, we need a more specific question. So, we will not continue on the path of asking "What are we waiting for?" because there are so many right and salutary answers. Indeed, this question must be asked of each individual. God comes to you and asks: "What are YOU waiting for?" If you wait for nothing, then your answer must be: "I am waiting for faith to come through the Holy Spirit." For there is always expectancy with faith. Without expectation, there is no faith.
But let us treat a more profitable question: how is one to wait?
Waiting can be empty.
The one who expects nothing, absolutely nothing--the one who has no goals, who has such a low opinion of others as to look for nothing from them, who banks on nothing, who has nothing to look forward to--this one still waits...but the waiting is empty. For what does this one wait? Perhaps simply for time to pass. But even that waiting launches most of us to expect something--anything--to happen. Perhaps the one waits, but has no idea for what. Waiting in expectancy without content is empty.
The one who expects nothing, absolutely nothing--the one who has no goals, who has such a low opinion of others as to look for nothing from them, who banks on nothing, who has nothing to look forward to--this one still waits...but the waiting is empty. For what does this one wait? Perhaps simply for time to pass. But even that waiting launches most of us to expect something--anything--to happen. Perhaps the one waits, but has no idea for what. Waiting in expectancy without content is empty.
Waiting can also be full. This statement launches us into several distinctions, since one whose waiting is full is not always satisfied. Satisfaction, that is faith, depends on both the substance of the thing and the conviction towards which one approaches the object of expectancy. Allow me to explain:
As to the substance:
+ To expect the good is hope.
+ However to expect evil is faithlessness or despair.
As to the nature of the conviction:
If one expects evil, one can relate to such an object of expectation either positively or negatively.
+ To happily expect the evil is demonic.
+ To unhappily expect the evil is pure fear.
+ To happily expect the evil is demonic.
+ To unhappily expect the evil is pure fear.
If one expects good, the same distinctions also apply:
+ To happily (or positively) expect the good is hope. Hope is full of patience and is purely, precisely pregnant waiting. Ah, this is joy.
+ Yet, to unhappily expect the good, then one joylessly suffers impatience and exasperation. Restively expecting the good is not exactly empty waiting, as one is still waiting for something, namely the good. The waiting is full, but full of anxiety.
+ Yet, to unhappily expect the good, then one joylessly suffers impatience and exasperation. Restively expecting the good is not exactly empty waiting, as one is still waiting for something, namely the good. The waiting is full, but full of anxiety.
Why would all of this matter?
Friends it matters so that we might reflect on our own waiting, that is, its nature. Do we fear or hope? Are we demonic in our waiting, or do we stand in the full light of the Morning Star? Asking these very questions of our waiting is the only way to alter the nature of our waiting. In order to strive for hope, which is the task of faith, we must first assess from whence we begin the journey. We must reflect on how we wait, so that we might take the chance to--if necessary--turn, repent. If I follow the path of despair, fear, or faithlessness, if I walk the path demons have trod, then I must repent, that is, turn back and seek a different Way. And so we must be cognizant that there are different kinds of waiting, cognizant of how we wait.
For example, I hate waiting. I am not good at it in the least. I usually expect the good (though certainly not always), but I often unhappily expect the good. I am often impatient, often anxious about timing. I don't like waiting in lines, neither in the supermarket nor at red lights. And sometimes I am short with people. It is not how I want to be. However, I must recognize this trait in myself if I am ever going to correct myself, or allow the Holy Spirit guide me along straighter paths. At times it is just to be impatient, at times impatience is not a sin--but I would rather not make a habit of it.
But through all of this, there is no joy in the waiting, but only after the waiting is over. Once the waiting is done, and that which was expected is accomplished, then there is certainly joy. But our little discourse promised that it was a joy to wait, and not just to be allowed to cease waiting.
Therefore, we must go on and ask: What joy is there in waiting?
The most blessed joy.
That is, the most blessed joy if your expectancy is predicated (founded on, resting within) on God.
With God, the object of expectancy does not matter, but only that it is God from whom one expects something.
With God, how one waits (ultimately) does not matter, but only that one waits.
Even the one who waits for healing but fears the worst, even that one is loved by God and is given a measure more of grace.
Even the one who demonically anticipates evil, even that one is loved by God and is given an extra measure of grace.
If you are waiting--no matter how, no matter for what--God will come.
Waiting opens a path between the present and the future...a path that God's eternity wishes to immediately travel upon and come directly to you.
Waiting prepares a highway for our God--in our minds and hearts...in our lives.
What blessed joy that waiting is always the imminent potential of basking in the presence of God!
Wait for it...
...Thanks be to God for that. Amen.
For example, I hate waiting. I am not good at it in the least. I usually expect the good (though certainly not always), but I often unhappily expect the good. I am often impatient, often anxious about timing. I don't like waiting in lines, neither in the supermarket nor at red lights. And sometimes I am short with people. It is not how I want to be. However, I must recognize this trait in myself if I am ever going to correct myself, or allow the Holy Spirit guide me along straighter paths. At times it is just to be impatient, at times impatience is not a sin--but I would rather not make a habit of it.
But through all of this, there is no joy in the waiting, but only after the waiting is over. Once the waiting is done, and that which was expected is accomplished, then there is certainly joy. But our little discourse promised that it was a joy to wait, and not just to be allowed to cease waiting.
Therefore, we must go on and ask: What joy is there in waiting?
The most blessed joy.
That is, the most blessed joy if your expectancy is predicated (founded on, resting within) on God.
With God, the object of expectancy does not matter, but only that it is God from whom one expects something.
With God, how one waits (ultimately) does not matter, but only that one waits.
Even the one who waits for healing but fears the worst, even that one is loved by God and is given a measure more of grace.
Even the one who demonically anticipates evil, even that one is loved by God and is given an extra measure of grace.
If you are waiting--no matter how, no matter for what--God will come.
Waiting opens a path between the present and the future...a path that God's eternity wishes to immediately travel upon and come directly to you.
Waiting prepares a highway for our God--in our minds and hearts...in our lives.
What blessed joy that waiting is always the imminent potential of basking in the presence of God!
Wait for it...
...Thanks be to God for that. Amen.
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