We are currently in the season of Advent. A season that’s all about waiting with anticipation for the coming Christ. As I’ve been reflecting on what it looks like to wait on God, it’s struck me that my waiting has typically been accompanied by the question, “How long, O Lord?” Although that question reflects a faithful cry throughout the Psalms, if I’m honest with myself it’s often reflected my own discontentment & impatience with my current situation. So my questions have tended to look like this:
“How long, O Lord, until You let me know what I’m supposed to do with my life?”
“How long, O Lord, until You send me the one I’m supposed to marry?”
“How long, O Lord, until You bring me my dream job?”
While these questions have simply reflected my heartfelt desires at the time, I’m guessing that God has often felt like I’m the impatient kid in the backseat of the car on a long road trip, berating my heavenly Father with the question, “Are we there yet?!” Although I don’t like to admit it, these questions have often revealed my distrust in God’s guidance. Embedded in these questions has been a subtle questioning of God’s faithfulness for not acting more quickly to give me the things I want or feel I deserve, even though He has continually provided graciously for me throughout my life. Now there definitely are times when the question, “How long, O Lord?” is not only fair but also fervently faithful, like in the case of someone who’s crying out to God for deliverance from a debilitating disease. I’m simply stating that in my life this question has typically accompanied seasons of discontentment.
Reflecting on that during this season has compelled me to shift my focus from question to confession. So in place of my usual, “How long, O Lord?” I’m realizing that my cry should instead be, “Too long, O Lord…”
“Too long, O Lord, have I distrusted Your direction for my life.”
“Too long, O Lord, have I doubted Your faithfulness to Your promises.”
“Too long, O Lord, have I felt that I have a better sense than You as to how I can best serve You.”
Perhaps you also need to move from question to confession. Perhaps God is likewise calling you to let go of discontentment & impatience & instead seek to be content with the here & now while you patiently & eagerly await what He has in store for you next. Doing so will help each of us to dial into the richness of this Advent season as we await the One who has already given us so much more than we deserve & who continues to provide us with all that we truly need in the gift of Himself.
Rev in Real Life 