We are in the season of Advent, the time of preparing our hearts for the birth of the Messiah Jesus. In the song O Holy Night, there is a line that says, "The thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices". In the midst of our weariness, we want to recapture the thrill of hope.

There is a lot of darkness in our world. The days keep getting shorter. The stories of brokenness and sadness can seem never-ending.

Imagine you lived during the time of Jesus. It has been 400 years since the nation of Israel has heard a word from the Lord. They have had 400 years of silence. They lived under 6 different government systems and not were under Roman rule with no end in sight. How would you feel? Confused. Angry. Give Up?

Into this darkness a baby was prophized to be born. We know him as John the Baptism, the forerunner to Jesus. His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied that he would prepare the way for the Lord and give his people knowledge of salvation. The 400 years of darkness are about to be over. The waiting is about to end.

It is hard to wait. Waiting is a great teacher and trainer in life. Sometimes it is dark and hard to see the path toward. Remember this:
1) God's delays are not God's denials.
2) The best meals take longer to prepare.

We choose to wait actively and not passively. We remember how long and graciously God waited for us. We wait in active trust. Psalm 131:3 says, "Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore." John 1:5 says, "A light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

In the dark places of your life, in our world, do not let the darkness win. It may be dark, but dawn is coming.