Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to “endure.” I listened to a podcast by VOUS church on endurance and how in Habakkuk 1:2, the prophet is asking God “How much longer” until He will come. God says, “If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay” (chapter 2, verse 3) — and that turned out being around 700 YEARS until Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem to save the world.
It’s been a little over 2,000 years since He was born, and now with COVID-19 getting worse again, I’m wondering… How much longer, Lord, until You return again?
Then I thought of a beautiful Christmas song that helps me find the strength to keep enduring. The lyrics begin like this:
Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, oh Israel
Does Jesus like watching us wait? Why is He taking forever to rescue us from this brutal world full of pain and sickness and sorrow? Rather than “taking forever” to rescue us, He’s actually waiting patiently for us to turn to Him. He is waiting to judge us. He is rich in mercy and slow to anger, wishing that all might come to Him.
What does that Christmas song instruct us to do during hard times of waiting? It instructs us to “rejoice.” That is how we will have the strength necessary to endure the battles of life. Take time to thank and praise God — put on some worship music and dwell on the truth about His goodness, or sing to Him yourself. Worship helps remind us of our good, good Father who promises peace and strength to all who trust in Him.
Musings of Hope 