Celebrate like it's (BC) 99 - a short devotional - December 2024

Have you ever waited for something for so long you assumed it would never happen?

Three-years of prayers span my journal with loud cries for change in a particular area of my life. Desperation begs for God's movement and provision but at times seeps into confusion, anger and sadness. Numerous friends and family prayed for things never promised but profoundly desired. How could I long for something so deeply but have it unanswered?

While these things were never promised to me, God did promise to send a Messiah to the Israelites. For hundreds of years, many remained faithful to God, trusting he would provide. Prayers arose, sacrifices perished, prophets came and went. Desperation begged for God's movement and provision but at times seeped into confusion, anger and sadness. With each dying prophet, I wonder how many Israelites gave up hope and doubted God's faithfulness.

But then, after hundreds of years of waiting, prophesies and miracles accelerated, converging upon the day of Jesus' birth. Joseph and Mary welcomed the long-awaited answer to so many prayers. They bore witness to what many before them had only hoped for--a savior.

To my delight, God recently answered my prayers. Unfortunately, I moved a thousand miles from my previous location which means so many friends who prayed for this gift won't be able to see its daily fruit in my life. I have others nearby who are celebrating with me and get to reap the benefit of the prayers of others. It will be harder for them to understand the meaning of the answered prayers, but they get to bare witness to what many before them had only hoped for.

Every December, we have the privilege of celebrating what so many never got to see. Let's celebrate with the amount joy that thousands of Israelites through hundreds of years would bestow upon this season if they could be here to celeberate again and again the coming of Jesus--a blessing we never waited for.