Waiting...and Waiting...Waiting

"My soul [waiteth] for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: [I say, more than] they that watch for the morning." Psalm 130:6

I'm learning a lot about waiting and patience right now. When I take the time to reflect on my own attitude and behavior, I realize that there's not much difference between me and my five-year-old niece.

There's several things I'm waiting for right now. Mainly earthly desires.

I'm waiting for a certain guy to call. hoping he will. wondering if he's already forgotten what my face looks like (I'm remembering his great smile). Wondering if he's replaying all our conversations, as short as they were, in his head as I am.

I'm waiting for Spring. It's March 25 and the high today didn't get above 38. I'm still needing to wear a fleece jacket and gloves to/from work. I looked at the 10-day forecast and there's no suggestion that this cold weather will let up anytime soon. Today I let myself daydream for a split second in the middle of an evaluation about it being warm and summery outside and I got to wear shorts and flip-flops all the time.

Here's the thing: I never would be so passionately and excitedly waiting for these things if I hadn't gone through a little "suffering" before-hand. (I put suffering in quotes, because it's not really suffering; nothing compared to the suffering Jesus went through) If I didn't have a 26-year history of single-ness, If the past 3 1/2 months weren't so bitterly cold and dreary, then I would have no true appreciation of the warm weather, the ability to wear flip-flops, the late-night phone conversations and time to spend with someone you can't imagine being apart from for more than a minute.

Even more though, I have hope in Jesus Christ. As I wait for the spring and love, they remind me of waiting for Christ to return in glory and bring a new heaven and a new earth. In reality, the spring will turn to summer, and summer will eventually lead back to a cold winter; the man I can't wait to talk to, may not call, he may never have a second-thought about me after I walked out of his door, BUT Christ WILL return. He will reign in glory and Make ALL THINGS NEW! I may be disappointed by earthly desires, but Jesus Christ will never disappoint.

And, when I remember God's promises, I have hope and am refreshed. So, even if I continue to live in a replay of "Groundhog Day" and even if I am single for the rest of my life, I can still hope. I will still rejoice in the Lord's Promises.

"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful" Revelations 21:5