Are you waiting on the Lord? With Easter around the corner, I’m struck by the timing of God. God promised a Messiah in Genesis 3, but it was thousands of years until Jesus came—”when the fullness of time had come” (Galatians 4:4). And even then, He did not begin His public ministry until thirty years after His birth. And then it wasn’t what the people expected. Jesus died and was buried. All looked lost … but, on the third day, when the time was right, He rose again! Victory! Salvation! A new covenant ushered in. Realization of the promises of God.

But that was not the fullness of the kingdom (Acts 1:7–8); there is more waiting, more to complete. We live in the in-between, waiting for His return. We wait for the day when God’s dwelling will be with man (Revelation 21:3). On a more personal note, we wait for God to complete His work of sanctification in us (Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:29–30). And we wait for so many other things, too, don’t we?

What are we to do in this waiting? Look expectantly to God, knowing He will fulfill His promises, that He is with us in the midst, that His plans and timing are perfect. We can seek the presence of the Lord. We can remember His promises and His past faithfulness (Hebrews 11, 1 Peter 1, and 2 Peter 3:8–13 might be especially encouraging). We can pray. We can continue to gather together and spur one another on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:19–25). We can rejoice and give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Philippians 4:4-8). And, as you do in the Q&A system, we can keep proclaiming the truth of God and loving with His love.

Thank you for so faithfully serving and helping others to know, love, and wait on God. In whatever season of waiting you find yourself, may you be encouraged to, “be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14)