Wait for the Lord; Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalms 27:14)

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. (Luke 2:25)

Waiting is hard for me. My impatience often distracts me to issues over which I have no control. When I was young I could not wait for my birthday or Christmas to arrive. The anticipation and excitement for the party or celebration made it hard to concentrate on anything else.

Now I wait for the results of medical tests and procedures. I hope and pray the results will lead to treatment that deal successfully with the symptoms. Now it is not excitement, but worry and fear are the emotions I face. I tend to dwell on the bad possible outcomes and worry what those could mean for the future.

I find great comfort in prayer and scripture at times like these. I need to trust that the God who created me wants only the best for my life and the lives of those I love. I need to remember how God has answered my prayers in the past, not always the way I had hoped but in the end better than I thought possible.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to wait on your time for the struggles in my life. Let me focus on all the blessings you have given me during my life. Give me the knowledge that you will meet my needs in your time. I know you want the best for me and all your children. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jim Hahn, Pastoral Assistant