Waiting Well in Deep Darkness
Earlier this year, I had to update my license to the Real ID (the one with the little yellow star), so I went down to the DMV one morning, and it was so crowded and slow that I gave up, left, and decided to try another day. I went another day, and it was just as crowded, so I decided to wait it out. I took a number, organized my documents, and then sat. And sat. And sat. I actually almost laughed out loud at one point because of how slow the whole process was. While every conceivable technology, system, and operation in the world has sped up 30, 60, 100x, the Department of Motor Vehicles has stubbornly refused.
Sitting there for more than an hour reminded me again just how little we have to wait anymore — for anything. Right? I realized that I’d forgotten how to wait like that. And yet so much of the Christian life is learning how to wait well. You’re waiting for God to do something right now. We’re all waiting for God to answer, or heal, or save, or reconcile, or direct, or provide, or open some door. I love the picture in Psalm 130:5–6:
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.”
In ancient Israel, the watchmen took turns standing on the city walls all day and night to watch for enemies. The work was obviously harder and more intense at night, when it was so dark.
The watchmen never knew when an enemy army might creep up in the shadows and attack. If they fell asleep or got distracted, who knows how many of their loved ones might die? So they would stare and stare and stare into the darkness, looking for any sign of movement. Seconds felt like minutes, hours felt like days. They strained to see the horizon and then waited. And one of two things would eventually appear: an enemy or the sun.
“More than watchmen for the morning.” That’s how our souls are meant to wait for the Lord. Today begins Advent.
And what is Advent?
Advent is a season of waiting.
Where are we waiting?
In a land of deep darkness.
What are we waiting for?
The Light to shine on us.
We’re waiting, in other words, like watchmen for the morning.
And what do we do during Advent?
Prepare our hearts to welcome Jesus.
My exhortation for us this morning, Cities Church, and for this whole month, is that we keep our eyes fixed on the horizon, looking, yearning for the Son.
