At the heart of Advent are the elements of preparation, anticipation, and waiting.

All of us experience difficult waiting times in one form or other.

“Waiting is our destiny. As creatures who cannot by themselves bring about what they hope for, we wait in the darkness for a flame we cannot light. We wait in fear for a happy ending we cannot write. We wait for a ‘not yet’ that feels like a ‘not ever.’ Waiting is the hardest work of hope.” - Lewis B. Smedes

Luke 2:25-28, 36-38 (ESV)
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said… 36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple,
worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

What God does in us while we wait is as important as what it is we’re waiting for.

Romans 5:3-5
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Waiting is not just something we have to do until we get what we want; waiting is part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be.

Waiting on the Lord is a confident, disciplined, expectant, active, and sometimes painful clinging to God.

1. To wait well requires knowledge.

Psalm 119:103-105
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore, I hate every false way. 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

In times of waiting, the Bible will reassure us of God’s character and help us keep our lives aligned with His will.

2. To wait well requires proper perspective.

Luke 2:29
Lord, now you are letting your servantdepart in peace, according to your word…

Romans 11:33
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

A belief in God's sovereignty helps us wait by providing the assurance that, even when we can't see the bigger picture, God is in complete control of all situations.

3. To wait well requires faith.

Romans 8:24
Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

God-honoring faith is defined by your willingness to pray, expect, trust, obey, and in general, live a God-honoring life while you wait.