Finding God in the Darkness of Waiting

Honest grief. That's where we must begin. The ache of unfulfilled longing is a familiar companion to many of us. It whispers in the quiet moments when the world is still. You may be grappling with a prayer that feels unheard, a dream that seems out of reach. This is the reality for so many—like Simeon, who waited and waited, hoping against hope for a promise that felt as distant as the stars. Yet, in that pain, there lies a powerful truth: waiting is not wasting time; it's a sacred act of faith.

The Sacred Right to Cry

In a culture that often demands positivity, lament is an uncomfortable but necessary act. The Psalms are filled with cries of despair—Psalm 13 is a poignant example, where David asks, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?” This sacred right to cry out is essential; it validates our feelings of grief and loss. Jesus himself wept at Lazarus's tomb (John 11:35), showcasing that sorrow is part of the human experience, not a deficiency of faith.

For Simeon, the waiting was heavy. He wasn't just waiting for a moment; he was waiting for a Messiah, a hope that carried his entire community's longing. His faithful attendance at the temple wasn't about mere ritual; it was an act of defiance against despair, an acknowledgment that God was still in control. This grief, this longing for the promised consolation of Israel, validated his suffering. Biblical lament teaches us that it's okay to grieve, to cry out, and to seek God in our pain. Grief is the soil from which hope can sprout.

The Language of Loss

How do we lament? The structure of lament in the Bible serves as a guide. Lament Psalms typically follow a pattern: they start with an address to God, followed by a complaint, a request for help, and often a statement of trust. This is evident in Psalm 77, where the psalmist remembers God’s deeds, shifting from despair to hope. Simeon's lament is not recorded in words but expressed through his faithful presence in the temple, through the years of prayer and expectation.

In Luke 2:25, we read that Simeon was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. This wasn't passive; it was an active engagement with God’s promises. He wasn’t just waiting; he was actively participating in the story of salvation, interceding for his people. His lament became a prayer, a way of aligning himself with God's heart.

Meeting God in the Darkness

We must not ignore that God meets us in our grief. In Simeon’s case, this encounter came in a moment of recognition—when the infant Jesus was brought into the temple. Luke 2:28-30 tells us, “Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.’” This moment of divine recognition is crucial; it shows that God fulfills His promises, but often not in the ways we expect. The Holy Spirit led Simeon to this moment (Luke 2:27), reminding us that God is intricately involved in our waiting periods.

When Simeon recognized Jesus, he acknowledged both the joy of fulfillment and the burden of prophetic truth. The suffering servant was not merely a figure of hope, but a source of division and sorrow as well. In verse 34, Simeon’s prophecy reveals this complexity: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel.” Understanding God in the darkness requires us to embrace the paradox of joy mixed with sorrow; waiting doesn't erase our pain but transforms it.

The Mysterious Turn

Something shifts when we truly encounter the presence of God amidst our lament. The transformation from waiting to recognizing involves a deepening understanding of God's ways. For Simeon, it meant preparing to release his life’s expectancy; he could now die in peace because he had seen the Messiah (Luke 2:30). This pivotal moment reflects a broad truth in scripture: God often turns our mourning into joy, but the process is rarely straightforward. Throughout Job's journey, we see this complexity; he experienced profound grief while still holding onto his faith.

Just as Job found renewal in his relationship with God through his trials, so too did Simeon find fulfillment in the face of the infant Jesus. This transition from lament to praise is not one of quick resolution but a deepening of faith that recognizes God’s presence in the ongoing struggle. What if our waiting becomes a preparation for release? Embracing the complexity of our faith means acknowledging that sometimes, we must hold both joy and sorrow together.

Songs from the Ruins

What does praise look like after lament? It’s not just a return to normalcy; it’s a deeper engagement with God’s faithfulness. After years of waiting, Simeon’s praise reflects a profound understanding of the Messiah's role—not merely as a savior but as a transformative figure who would bring bot