I recently went to a Pop Culture Expo, where lots of people could come to talk with and get autographs from famous people in movies, art, and television. It was a blast. There were a lot of fun people to talk with, and I even got a few autographs. My brother was there too. We went for two days and it was a good thing we did. The first day we were there my brother was in line almost the whole time to get to talk with one person. When we got there there was a sign on the table saying “out to lunch.” There was still a line of people waiting but not a long one. This changed as soon as lunch was over. What seemed like a small line suddenly grew as “VIP” ticket holders appeared. These were people who payed extra for the privilege of getting to the front of the line. My brother ended up waiting in that line for a few hours.
What is the longest you have ever waited for something? The answer is probably the doctor’s office for me. That can sometimes take quite a while. If you have to go to the ER and you don’t have a life-threatening condition you will most likely wait a long time. The average ER wait in some states is 3 to 5 hours. North Dakota has the shortest wait time but that is still 108 minutes.
We wait a lot during our lifetime. The average person spends about 5 years waiting in lines, and about 6 months of that is in traffic. And nobody really likes it. But there is a difference between how long a wait is vs. how long a wait seems. I was able to find a lot of factors that contribute to the difference. First, it matters whether or not you can occupy your time while waiting. If you can the wait doesn’t seem as long. I think cell phones have made this easier over the years. Waiting in line is one place where I don’t mind the distraction of the phone. Also, people want to believe that they have started an activity even if they are still waiting. That is why some restaurants let you see the menu while you wait for a table. It also may be one reason why doctor’s offices will put people in an exam room before the doctor actually visits. Anxiety will make a wait seem longer. If you are in line for a seat on a plane, for example, you might feel like the wait takes a while. And uncertainty also lengthens the feeling. Think of a play you might want to attend. You get there maybe half an hour early and don’t mind the wait, because you know when the play is supposed to start. But what if the curtain doesn’t rise until 10 minutes after it was supposed to? Then you start to feel annoyed even though the wait is 10 minutes vs. 30.
Are there examples of waiting in the bible? Yes there are. The Israelites had to wait quite a while for deliverance out of Egypt (and in the wilderness). Jacob waited 14 years for Rachael. Abraham waited decades for a child. The New Testament has us waiting too:
Acts 1:3-9
3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
How would you take this news? God is basically saying to wait in a city they don’t want to be in. Indeed they were told not to leave. And there are not a lot of specifics given either. There are several things I mentioned earlier that apply in this situation. The apostles are told a gift is coming but they don’t know anything about it. It had to be nerve wracking. It kind of reminds me of waiting for Christmas when I was a child. It is hard to wait.
So what did the disciples do while they waited?
Acts 1:21-26
21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
They kept on living. They kept on doing the things they knew they should be doing. They didn’t let the waiting get to them. There is a lesson there for us. We will always have to wait for things in our lives. We will always have to wait in a spiritual sense too. Don’t let it get to you. Keep doing what you know you should be doing. Do the right thing while you wait for the right thing for you.
God Bless,