Waiting, Hoping, Beholding

It was revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.

This prophecy must have settled deep in Simeon’s soul. To know that you would live long enough to see the Messiah had to carry with it much tension.

I don’t know how long Simeon had waited for this moment. I don’t know if he simply trusted God’s timing or if he anxiously waited day after day, year after year, hoping, and praying this would come to pass.

The tension between living a long, fulfilled life and knowing that death would follow once you saw the Messiah may have been unbearable.  We don’t really know. We only see a small portion of the story here in Luke 2:22-35.

Maybe for Simeon it didn’t matter. We don’t live in the time period where we are awaiting the birth if the Messiah. We live in a world where Messiah has already come, a world where we anticipate his return, but we are in no hurry for him to return unless our souls are in utter distress.

What if we could patiently wait? What if doing our part in the world and trusting God’s timing was simply enough? What if all we had to do was trust God and follow the light?

I wonder if our lives would be less hectic, less chaotic, more fulfilled, rich in love, abundant in light, and full of mercy and grace.

Simeon said, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation.”

How did he know this was the Messiah?

How did he have faith to keep on believing?

We do not know the answer for him, but how would we know this for our ownselves? This is the tension we must live with and wrestle through.  For God’s timing, however long it takes, is perfect.