“And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
-Luke 1:30–33“And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.”
-Luke 2:51
280 Days of Waiting, And Then Some More
Thousands of years of prophecy led up to this moment when the Angel came to Mary and told her the news of the Son she would have. But even then, there was still more time to wait.
Can you imagine the anticipation Mary felt when she heard the news?
9 months of pregnancy is a long time for any mother – but what if your child was going to be the Messiah?
That’s excitement we can’t imagine.
But you know what?
Jesus was still a baby.
It would be another 30 years before He would begin public ministry.
All the while, Mary would wonder exactly what the life of the Messiah would be like the next day.
I’m sure there was plenty of joy,
and I’m sure there was plenty of sorrow.
And it all happened in God’s timing.
I so often wish I could speed things up
but we all have to realize that God’s time is not slow…
It’s precise.
I like the word precise when talking about God’s timing and purpose.
It reminds me that God doesn’t wait just to delay.
That He’s not “slow as some count slowness” but that He waits for a purpose.
We’re told that He delays His final return so that many may come to knwo Him (2 Peter 3:9) and we’ve seen Him be faithful time and time again in Scripture and in the lives of people today – that His waiting is purposeful.
He makes us wait for a reason.
So, if you’re in a season of waiting, here are some verses to encourage you during this time.
“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” -Psalm 27:14
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” -Isaiah 40:31
“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.” -Isaiah 30:18
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” -James 1:12
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” -Romans 12:12
“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” -James 5:7–8
“But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” -Micah 7:7