Waiting Is Not Absence
A devotional for Tuesday
Scripture:
“The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies until the woman in labor gives birth.”
Micah 5:3a (NLT)
Reflection:
Waiting has always been woven into the story of God’s people. Between promise and fulfillment, there is often silence, uncertainty, and longing. Abraham waited decades for a son. Israel waited generations for freedom. Exile stretched hope thin until it felt almost gone. Waiting can make us wonder if God has forgotten us or changed His mind. But Advent teaches us something different: waiting is not God’s absence; it is His preparation. God is not idle during seasons of delay. He is forming trust, deepening faith, and shaping hearts. A wrapped gift under the tree is still a gift, even before it is opened. The waiting does not negate the promise; it confirms it. God’s love does not arrive late; it arrives exactly on time. Even when we cannot see what He is doing, God is still coming toward us. Waiting, though uncomfortable, is often where love grows deepest roots.
Question:
What promise of God are you waiting on, and how might God be shaping you in the waiting rather than just rushing you through it?