When you just can’t wait anymore

Waiting Room

Photo credit: ©iStockphoto/jsmith

One of my favorite episodes in the Bible is when Mary Magdalene meets Jesus after His ressurrection (John 20:1-20).

Just a few days before, Mary had seen Jesus die. She believed He was the Messiah and the Son of God, but now He was dead. How was she supposed to continue living after everything she believed in was taken from her?

She was still shocked by what had happened when she went to Jesus’ tomb and she found it empty. Not only had Jesus died in a cruel manner, now someone had taken his body as well. It was more than she could bear. And Jesus knew that.

Then in an unexpected turn of events, He just shows up. She doesn’t recognize Him at first, but when she hears His voice she knows it’s Him. She bursts with joy and moves towards him, but He says:

“Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” – verse 17

In the middle of the most important event of all time, Jesus stops by to talk to Mary and deliver a message to his disciples. Can you imagine that?

He loved them so much that, even though the plan was not yet completed (He still needed to ascend to the Father), He put it on hold for a few minutes to attend to Mary’s and his disciples’ needs.

He knew that they couldn’t wait any longer. They were desperate, and if they heard that His body was missing that would devastate them. It would be beyond what they could bear.

They needed to know that Jesus was still there for them. They just had to hang on a little longer and the plan would be completed. They needed to know, most of all, that it was not finished, it was just beginning. And their lives would never be the same again.

Jesus still has the same message for all of us. God has a plan and in His plan everything happens at the right time.

But sometimes it seems impossible to wait. Sometimes we are in such a difficult situation that we want out. Or we are waiting for a promised blessing and we want it, we need it. Now, please!

Sometimes it seems that waiting just a couple more hours is too long.

In those moments, if you look for Jesus like Mary did, you will find Him alive and well, and most of all in control. You will see that He will find a way to tell you to hang on a little longer, to be sure that it is not finished, it is just beginning.

He won’t make you wait any longer than you can. And in every moment that you do wait, He will be there. Even if you don’t recognize Him (like Mary didn’t at first).

Pay close attention and listen: He is telling you to trust Him. Everything will be alright.

Just wait for the right time: His time. It’s almost there. Just wait a little more… And your life will never be the same again.

2 Comments

  1. I love this perspective. I’ve never read the story in this light.

    • Tony, thanks for your comments.
      I have such a hard time waiting for things to happen, this post is basically how God talked to me once about it, and I wanted to share. 🙂

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