A Time to Wait

President Thomas Prachar

by Thomas Prachar

Patience. It is much easier said than done. As someone once prayed, “Lord, I need patience—and I want it now!” As we wait in the grocery store checkout line, or crawl along in traffic, or wait our turn in the hospital’s emergency room, or count the days to our next vacation, or as children count the days when they can finally open Christmas presents, patience is a virtue that seems to be lacking in most of us.

I’m not sure if it has come about because of age or just more life experiences, but patience seems to be coming easier for me. Don’t get me wrong—I can still be very impatient in many circumstances. But when the highway is closed because of an accident, my thinking is that now I’ve been presented with an opportunity simply to relax for a while. When I get to the airport early and have to “hurry up and wait” for my flight, I reason that now I can get some needed reading done. When I’m waiting in the doctor’s office, I can close my eyes and pray for myself and especially those around me who are experiencing greater health issues than I am. While I’m waiting for my vehicle to be serviced, I convince myself that this will take some time, so just sit back and read the newspaper or magazines provided.

During Advent, Christians may become impatient for we are encouraged to prepare for our Lord’s second coming. But year after year has gone by without His appearing. When will He finally come to take us to our heavenly home? Some people are impatient to leave this world with all its illness and suffering and join their Saviour in the perfection of heaven.

As we approach another Christmas, we hear God’s Word comforting and instructing us: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5). While it may seem that God was slow in providing a Saviour for the world, He acted at just the right time. God sent His own Son, conceived of the Holy Spirit, yet born of a woman. He then placed Himself under the Law in order to fulfill its rigid requirements for us. God’s Son suffered the death all mankind deserved. But His perfect sacrifice and triumphant resurrection bring eternal life to all who believe in Him.

While it may seem that God was slow in providing a Saviour for the world, He acted at just the right time.

If you are a person who can’t wait for Christmas to arrive, or you can’t wait for the Christmas season to be over, you can relax as Jesus’ love surrounds you. Our Lord has everything under control for our life in this world and our life with Him forever.

———————

Rev. Thomas Prachar is President of the Central District of Lutheran Church–Canada.

Print this article