“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 3:13b, 14
“But at the end of two years, the king died, and the prince found himself on the throne. He then made public announcement of his marriage, and went in state to fetch his royal consort from her castle. With her two children beside her she made a triumphant entry into the capital of her husband’s realm…”[1]
I love the image of our Sleeping Beauty claiming her rightful place beside her bridegroom. I imagine her entering with joyful tears in her eyes. After all this time, she is finally going to be united with her true love. This, this is what she has been waiting for…and I can’t help but think that it is so much sweeter because of the wait.
As I say that, I’m acutely aware of how painful the waiting can be. For while we wait, we must grapple with the possibility that what we hope for may not come true.
What if we never have our triumphant entry?
The burden of waiting has become heavy for me these past few months; I’m weary of waiting for a “triumph” that may never come. I just want to know: am I meant to be married, or not? Now, I recognize I’m by no means “over the hill,” and I am determined to be content with whichever answer God decides to give to that question.
Like I said, I just want to know. For my heart is heavy while I fight to be both hopeful and content. They seem to be opposing forces at the moment.
I don’t know what you’re waiting for. Perhaps it’s a good diagnosis from the doctor. Maybe it’s for your child to start making better decisions. Or, you could feel stuck in the monotony of life.
Do we hold onto our hopes, our dreams? And how on earth do we hope for it in Christ, all the while knowing that the answer may not be what we want?
Repeating Job’s words is a good place to start: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Praise the name of Yahweh.” (Job 1:21)
These words seem harsh at first, but Job knew what we often forget: either all will be restored in our lifetime, and we will look back on the waiting years with triumph; or else we will see our Savior’s face, and all our longings will melt away…and we will be triumphant indeed (Phil. 3:13b, 14).
We will often feel as if our waiting is in vain. But if we turn our hearts to Christ – if we continue to live with awakened hearts by hoping in his Word rather than give in to despair – then we can be assured to enter His Kingdom in Triumph.
As Sleeping Beauty waited, she made sure her trials and sorrows didn’t bind her in a waking-sleep once more. We, too, must make the same effort as we wait…
Sources
[1] Dore, Perrault’s Fairy Tales, p. 17
