A Season of Waiting

I'm not a huge fan of having to wait for things.  

I'm currently waiting for my house to sell, so I constantly have to ensure it's ready to be shown to prospective buyers while living in it.  I'm surrounded by reminders that I am in a waiting space, and it's not always pleasant. 

I'm becoming more fully aware of the coincidence that I'm in a season of life where I am living in expectation while also journeying through the Season of Advent.  

Advent reminds us that amidst the unfolding calendar of our lives lies the divine invitation to embrace hope and joy while awaiting a new and better world. Advent teaches us to lean into the beauty of liminal spaces—those in-between moments that invite us to pause, reflect, and grow.

Liminal spaces are often marked by uncertainty and discomfort, yet they are essential for transformation. 

In her book Learning To Love The Spaces In Between, Claire Gillman writes about these transitional periods, encouraging us to view them as opportunities for cultivating resilience and deeper understanding. 

She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the discomfort that arises during these times, reminding us that “it is in the spaces where we are unsure that the seeds of our growth take root.” This perspective is particularly poignant within the context of Advent, where waiting does not signify a pause in life but rather a vital time for growth and preparation.

Advent fosters anticipation that aligns beautifully with the spiritual journey we often find ourselves on. It offers a direct invitation to engage our hopes, allowing them to breathe and transform as we await something greater. 

As we navigate through this season, we may feel the weight of our current circumstances, but we are also encouraged to cultivate a vision for what lies ahead. This is not merely a mundane passage of time; it is a sacred period in which we prepare our hearts for the unfolding of God's promises.

Scripture provides profound insight into the practice of waiting. In Isaiah 40:31, we find the invitation to “wait for the Lord.” The verse beautifully states: 

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” 

This teaching reassures us that waiting is an active engagement with our faith, not the absence of action. It is a process that nurtures hope and fosters a joyful expectation for God's new and transformative work in our lives and the world around us.

In this season of Advent, as we reflect on the significance of the coming of Christ, we are invited to immerse ourselves in hope and joy. 

The hope we nurture during this time is not a wishful longing but a confident expectation rooted in faith. Joy emerges when we acknowledge that God is always at work—even in our waiting. We can find joy in small moments of kindness, beauty, and connection, mirroring the light we seek in the promise of a new dawn.

Furthermore, as we traverse through our own liminal spaces, we can look to the lessons embedded within these experiences. They remind us that the journey of waiting often leads to profound transformation. 

Gillman encourages us to embrace these moments of uncertainty and invitation, suggesting that each challenge is a stepping stone toward a greater understanding of ourselves and God’s divine plan. Advent invites us to keep our eyes open for divine surprises that may emerge when we least expect them.

As we await the celebration of Christmas, let us hold onto the dual threads of hope and joy tightly. Let us invite the Holy Spirit to awaken in us the capacity to relish in the waiting spaces, recognizing them as fertile ground for growth. Anticipating the new world God is unfolding means trusting in the goodness yet to be revealed, just as we faithfully await the coming of Christ.

This Advent, let us open our hearts to all the possibilities that lie ahead, cherishing the moments of waiting as we cultivate a deeper relationship with God, ourselves, and each other. 

May we grow in faith, embracing the strength that comes from hoping and the joy that comes from knowing that we are never alone in every season, even the waiting ones.

And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all, now and forever. Amen.