What are you waiting for?

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.  –Luke 2:36-38 (NIV)

I’m not very good at waiting. Oh, I do it, just not very gracefully. Whether it’s a stoplight, in line at the DMV, a package being delivered, or an answer to prayer, I quickly become impatient when forced to wait. Complaining or growing irritated doesn’t seem to help the situation, but that doesn’t keep me from doing it. Judging from those I’ve seen in similar circumstances, my response is not unique.

Maybe that’s why I am intrigued by Anna, the prophetess. She isn’t a prominent character in scripture. She is only mentioned once, in Luke 2, and there is some confusion as to her age. Was she 84 or was she widowed for 84 years? If the latter, then she may have been over 100 years old by the time we meet her. Either way, Anna was good at waiting.

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! –Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)

She knew the promise. Never mind that it had been 400 years since the ink dried on the last words penned in the Old Testament. That only meant the promise was closer to fulfillment than it had ever been. So she watched and she listened, anticipating, waiting expectantly, ready for Messiah to arrive. When He did, she recognized Him immediately, announcing the event through tears of joy to anyone who would listen: “He’s here! Come and see! God has kept His promise. Redemption is near!”

We know another promise, now 2000 years past. And we wait. What is our expectation level? Is the promise still real, or has it become a mythical someday? I want to wait like Anna – every day ready, worshiping, anticipating, announcing. After all, the One who made the promise has a perfect track record. And His methods and timing have always been impeccable, if sometimes beyond our ability to fathom.

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.  –James 5:7-8 (NIV)

Who knows? If I can keep a right perspective on that Big Wait, maybe I can reflect the One I’m waiting for the next time I’m at the DMV!

Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. –Luke 12:35-37 (NIV)