Hello Kathryn,

Merry Christmas! Christmas is getting closer and closer as we speak. My children are still giving me their updated Christmas lists and I am telling them they are well past the cutoff date for submission. I told my son, at this point, you may have to wait until your birthday. Needless to say, my answer was not received very well.

Many of us, like my son, are in a waiting season. We are waiting for God to move or waiting to see the fulfillment of a promise from God. I am writing to encourage you today to say hold on!

Mary is one of my favorite women in the Bible and she waited a long time. The angel appeared to her to say that she would bring forth the Messiah. We pick up the story in Luke chapter one. Gabriel tells Mary in Verse 30, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord will give Him the throne of His father David.”

Nine months came and Mary gave birth to the Messiah (that was the quick part), but she did not see all of the promise immediately. Imagine her life. As soon as she was given the promise, it created hurt and isolation because many did not believe her. Even Joseph was planning to divorce her quietly. When the baby was born, she and Joseph had to go by night to Egypt to protect Jesus from Herod. The promise moved her from her family.

When they eventually returned, she spent thirty years rearing Jesus in the day-to-day life. He started His ministry at thirty. We know that Mary pushed him because in His first miracle at the wedding, He told her “It is not My time yet.” His ministry was short by our standards and at the end He was crucified. Mary had to watch her precious son die on a cross for the sins of the world.

I am sure Mary asked herself, “Where is the greatness in this?” Mary had to wait. But today Mary is with Jesus and waiting on His second coming so that He will take the throne of His father David and rule from Jerusalem. Mary lived her entire life by faith. She held onto the angel’s words and did not forget. Now her waiting has paid off as she is with her son in Heaven.

We too must do the same. The promise has been given. We must live through an eye of faith each day even though we may not be able to see God moving. We must believe that He is moving.

Hold on! Hold on! One day the waiting will be worth it all!

Merry Christmas!

Until next time,