Patience in Waiting

Devotion by Guest Writer Catherine Campbell

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:4 NKJV

Everyone who visited the Temple in Jerusalem knew Simeon. When mothers and fathers brought their baby boys to fulfil the requirements of the Jewish law, Simeon was always hovering nearby. He was the old man of the Temple, righteous and respected, and a man with a story to tell. Word had it that Simeon had had a divine revelation that he wouldn’t die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah (Luke 2:25-26).

And so blessing little children became Simeon’s daily delight. But as the months passed into years nothing happened. And with the passage of time the faithful probably humoured the old man’s claims. After all, Jehovah had been silent for four hundred years. Why would He reveal Himself now? And to an old man? But Simeon was patient. He believed God. And his waiting was rewarded.

So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. Luke 2:27-28 NLT

Simeon was there! The old man was in his place. I wonder if he ever doubted God’s promise? Did he ever feel foolish turning up at the Temple day after weary day? Did his patience ever waver as he looked into the faces of a multitude of babies, only to realise time after time that this wasn’t the one? I don’t know. But I know this; the old man of the Temple waited until God fulfilled His promise. He never gave up. Instead, Simeon’s patience provided him with the opportunity to meet Jesus: to hold the Son of God in his frail arms – to welcome Israel’s promised Messiah.

Lord, now I can die in peace! As you promised me, I have seen the Saviour you have given to all people. Luke 2:29-31 NLT

The waiting was worth it! Are you any good at waiting? Somehow, sitting in God’s waiting room is just no fun. His timing never seems to work in synchronization with ours. We want everything yesterday, while He asks us to wait. To wait for that answer to prayer; to wait for that promise to be fulfilled; to wait for that prodigal to return. Yet there are few of us who can claim to have patience hardwired into our personality. Waiting is undoubtedly one of life’s most difficult tasks.

But what would happen if we gave up waiting? What if we doubted His promises in our lives? What if we were not in our place when God’s answer of His promise arrived? Think what we might miss!

Today’s devotion is taken from Catherine’s book, Chasing the Dawn: 40 devotional readings on pushing back the darkness. Catherine’s latest book, Journey with me through Christmas, is now available to buy.