Each day during Advent, we will post some sort of reflection having to do with waiting, anticipation, hope. Each one will be different, each one a chance to pause and take a breath during this busy season. Past posts are archived here.
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A week ago I met with a very excited bride to talk about her wedding which I’m officiating in a few weeks. Talk about “waiting in expectation” for an event to happen! Sweet Jessica is in love with Alexis, a young man from Chile, whom I met via Skype for the first time last week (technology is amazing!). Long story short, by faith these 2 lovebirds will be married after many months of getting to know each other, much prayer, counsel, and lots of waiting for: paperwork, embassy visits, visas to be approved, plane tickets to be bought, you name it! In faith and hope I told Jessica, “I hope he comes next week, that’ll be the best Christmas present!” The joy in her face as she saw her beloved across a screen was contagious. I found myself smiling from ear-to-ear. I, too, started longing with her and praying for his coming so they could start the rest of their lives together in the same country!
To be honest with you, I haven’t “longed” for someone’s arrival with joy and anxious anticipation like Jessica is experiencing in a long time. I don’t often get to see my brother, his wife and kids who live in Texas, so I got excited about us getting together last summer. I was eager to meet my baby boy Nash 4 years ago & prayed for his arrival. Waiting anxiously to wear my wedding dress in 2004 to meet Rob at the altar also comes close. Last time I couldn’t wait to see Rob was in 2009 when I served in a secluded, dangerous refugee camp in North Africa (even though honestly, I think it was my stomach virus that made me think that I was gonna die and not see him again)!
In these seemingly small human experiences, yet there’s a glimpse of what it means to wait for my true Bridegroom to return. Walking away from the coffee shop where I met with Jessica caused something to stir in my soul…
Do you long for My return with the same excitement and expectation?
My heart leapt and I was thankful for the reminder to wait and pray for the Blessed Hope to return for His church, with the same joy that a bride awaits for her bridegroom! He’s come once. He’s coming again. We are His Bride, without blemish, to be presented holy at the marriage with the Lamb! He is coming back one day and when that is, no one knows. But I do know that Isaiah is right when he says,
“Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.” Isaiah 49:23
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Today’s post was written by Inés McBryde.
Inés came with her husband Rob to FN in 2008. She loves being a boy-mom to little Nash who keeps her on her toes. She works as a Spanish Medical Interpreter at Children’s Hospital. Her heart is leading the Women’s Fellowship in our faith community. Salsa dancing is her fave! She loves sharing her Black Bean soup with anyone who cares.
You can find Inés on Twitter, Instagram, or at inesmcbryde.com.