I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait and in His word do I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.
Psalm 130: 5-6

WAITING
Christmas is often a time of joyful anticipation where we remember and look forward to the coming of Christ, His birth, His life, death and resurrection. This is also a season to long for the presence of God, awaiting His advent. Psalm 130 reminds us of our sin, our need for forgiveness, and our commitment to waiting and looking forward to the coming of the one who will bring our full atonement and redemption. We find the Psalmist crying out to God:

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.”  

For the Psalmist, hope is about the unseen and the belief that something good is to come. He is waiting and looking to the Lord, trusting, by faith, that the Lord will surely come. As the evening comes and darkness fills the sky, the watchmen, guardians over the city, wait with intensity, but trust that the sun will rise and the morning light will bring relief. The Psalmist says that he waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning - not just once, but twice. Can you sense his desire and desperation, possibly marked with fear and anticipation for the morning sun, but being sustained by the hope of knowing that the morning will surely come?

Jonathan Puls’ Annunciation #2 and Sara Groves’ Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song), give us a window into Mary’s waiting and longing. As you take a deep look into Puls’ painting, what do you see? Do you see more than a woman, with child, sitting in a twisted position on a chair with a strong light hitting her body? What is she thinking? What is she experiencing? What does he light reveal or make known?

In the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel comes to Mary and tells her the truth about what God is going to do through her and this child who was to be called the Son of the Most High, the Son of God.  Mary finds favor with God, but what does she feel as she hears this good news? Can you imagine the heaviness of this call - the responsibility and fear and burden that she might have felt? In Luke 1:37, Gabriel tells Mary that no promise from God is impossible. We might wonder if Mary holds Psalm 130 in her heart, and in light of trusting that Israel would find redemption in the coming Messiah, chooses to wait on the Lord as she responds, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Mary, the Lord’s bondslave, is open to God’s timing and humbly accepts the will of God for His purposes, in His timing.

There are times in life when our situations make sense and purposes are clear. There are also times when we feel alone -when the way and purposes are unknown. It is in this place, that we might say with the Psalmist, “I wait for the LORD... my soul waits for the LORD.” 

As you walk through this advent season, may you know that God is already always with you.  His indwelling Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit that came upon Mary and blessed her with favor, is also with you. This means you are not alone!  Whether in times of joyful anticipation or painful waiting for the coming of the Kingdom, may God grant you peace as you wait on Him, long for Him and come to accept His good will and purposes in your life. 
Lisa Ishihara, Director of Chapel Programs

DEAR GOD, hold me together, be forever near me, lighten my darkness, pour over me your holiness, for you are holy… I offer all I am for the mercy of your plan. Help me be strong.  Help me be.  Help me.  Amen