How many of us like waiting? Yet here we are observing Advent, waiting for the birth of the Christ, the promised Messiah. The Israelites heard this promise throughout their lives and didn’t see the Savior. Neither have we. They believed a promise; we believe the witnesses in God’s Word.

Isaiah’s invitation is from God, free for the taking, yet hard to believe. Harder to believe is God’s patience waiting for Israel to return to him, waiting for us to see his love. God was patient when I questioned, struggling to trust, but he was with me from the day I was baptized, is present now, and will be with me always. May we all rest in the faithfulness of our Maker.