By KRISTAN DOOLEY
The best I can compare this season of waiting I’m in is to the birth of my girls. For months I walked with them inside me, growing and showing. I felt them, talked to them, sung over them, prayed for them. I told Ella stories about what we would do. I read to Addy all the time. Before they were ever born they preached sermons with me, they laughed with me, and they felt the tears I cried. The anticipation of their physical arrival was overwhelming. I was excited and terrified all at the same time. With no idea what to expect, I waited.
The time was agonizing (and not only because I was extremely uncomfortable and the only shoes I could get over my swollen feet were house shoes). I knew a great gift was coming and yet I couldn’t control how or when it came.
Acts 1:4-5 says, “And while staying with them He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father which He said, ‘You heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Jesus told them to wait. He had just been crucified, buried and risen from the grave. Death had been defeated, they were taking their victory lap and yet He told them to wait. It must have been hard. Surely they were confused. I promise they needed self-discipline.
How do you wait when you know what you are waiting for will change everything?
Still, when Jesus says “wait,” you wait! There are things I’m waiting for right now. Promises He’s buried deep inside my heart. Secrets He has whispered to me in my favorite places with Him. I find faith in the disciple’s willingness to trust His orders. When we wait with expectation and discipline we, position ourselves for a miracle. I’ve learned sometimes He says wait and because He said it, I wait–without knowing, without understanding and without manipulating the plan to fit differently.
Acts. 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”
They were waiting to receive power. The power enabling them to witness to all the earth. “The original, etymological meaning of “you will” is “to grasp” or “to seize.” The disciples would receive this gift Jesus talked about. It was a promise. When and how were the questions still on the table. It’s like having a baby inside of you and not fully understanding when and how the child will come, but knowing when she comes she will change life as you know it.
It’s celebrating what is and also what is to come.
While the disciples waited, they gathered together in prayer and worship. While they waited, they celebrated. And in that they found peace.
FOR FURTHER THOUGHT How’s your waiting going? Have you found yourself able to worship while you wait? The Father has such good things in store for those who love Him. Some of those things happen instantly, but most of the time they come at us little by little. When you worship while you wait you carry the promise well.
I’m thankful we (unlike the disciples) no longer have to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit to fall on us. It has been done. Because of what was accomplished at the cross, we have the fullness Christ has to offer. “I will not abandon you as orphans, I will come to you. 19 In a little while, the world will not see me any longer, but you will see me; because I live, you will live too. 20 You will know at that time that I am in my Father and you are in me and I am in you.” John 14:18-20
In fact, I would even go as far as to say our waiting is made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. Be filled with the Spirit. Yield your life to the Spirit. Surrender to the Spirit, then wait and see all God has in store for you. Do you need patience in your waiting? Ask Holy Spirit to help you right now.
PRAYER Jesus, I need Your helper, the Holy Spirit. I am unable to wait well on my own. It’s simply too much. Holy Spirit, come upon me and empower me to do what I can’t. Strengthen me in my waiting. Increase my trust, grow my faith and steady my heart. I need you and I love you. Amen.
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