By Pastor Bob DeKlavon
Waiting causes a couple of different emotions.
There have been a couple of times when I have been ready to land at O’Hare airport…only to wait.
Sometimes, the plane has been in a holding pattern quite a while waiting for others to land.
Then, upon landing, there have been times of waiting while a gate is cleared.
Then, having to wait for everyone in front of me to get their bags and deplane and…waiting.
Can you say: “frustration.?”
On the other hand, there are times of looking forward to a holiday or special guests arriving.
When my daughters were little, we lived on a street where a stop sign was one house down from us.
Anyone coming to visit us—had to stop at that stop sign.
So, our girls would find out the time someone was coming, and they would begin their “waiting vigil.”
As a car would get to the stop sign they would say: “there they are!”
As the car drove past—“that’s not them.” Next car—same story.
They would do this until the guests arrived and then a shout of glee would ring out: “THEIR HERE!!!!!”
Can you say: “anticipation?”
I was thinking of this, of course, in relation to where we are right now.
It has been 5 weeks since we have shut things down related to public gatherings at church.
Now—as things slowly start to open up—we are left “waiting.” How long until we can meet again?
Will we have to do multiple services so we can maintain social distancing?
How long until ALL of us can be in the same place at the same time?
And, of course, one of the big questions is: “what will the ‘new normal’” look like?
I have spoken before and, taken great comfort in, one of the prophets known as a Minor Prophet.
His name is Habakkuk and his 3-chapter book is worth reading to understand the “big picture” of God.
Most prophets bring exhortation to the people about God.
Habakkuk brings his exhortation directly to God about how He is running Israel.
Habakkuk had just seen revival but now he sees the decay of Judah.
In 1:2, he cries out to God asking: “how long do I call to You but You do not hear?”
He decries the injustice he sees, and the iniquity of the people and he questions how God can allow this.
God gives him: “good news and bad news.” Good news—God IS going to judge Judah.
Bad news—He is going to use Babylon to do this.
The end of the book is worth a look as Habakkuk says: “I must wait quietly for the day of distress.”
He knows judgement is coming—he just does not know when.
He offers great honesty of his anxiety and physical angst yet he ends with the following:
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.
As followers of Jesus, I pray that we can still rejoice and be joyful as we wait for whatever God will do.