A Rubric for the Wait

By Dr. LaKendra Hardware, director for diversity, equity and inclusion

Our faith life goes in circles, cycles and seasons — any of which may find us navigating the uncertainty of a waiting space. As we settle into this new, yet familiar, season of Advent, we take this time to reflect intentionally on the “wait.” If you’ve ever had to wait for something truly significant to your identity, purpose or passion, then perhaps you can center yourself in today’s text.

We find ourselves entering a critical scene in the overall drama of God and humanity. Picture it: Gethsemane circa 27/28 A.D. Jesus makes His way to a place of prayer, accompanied by a few friends He hopes can sit with Him in a key moment of wait. Loaded down with the weight of a pending task, He takes some time to sift through feelings, fears and hopes.

Taking a page from this chapter of Jesus’ life, we can find a rubric, if you will, for sifting through seasons and moments of our lives impacted by a wait.

Relationship: (Verses 36-38) Take someone with you who, though heavy and weary with the weight of their own journey, can stay with you even if for a season.
Reveal: (Verses 36-38) Take note of where you are mentally, spiritually and emotionally as you enter this season.
Request (with Realization): (Verse 39) Know what you’d like/want while understanding what God wants/needs may be different in this season.
Repeated Request: (Verses 40-41) Check in with yourself/others and repeat what you need for support in this season.
Resolve: (Verse 42) Weigh it all and offer the fullness of your identity, purpose, passion and understanding to God.
(Repeat As Needed): (Verses 43-44) Do it again, as often as you need, to navigate through this circle, cycle and season called faith.

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44 (NRSV)

“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³⁷For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, ³⁹and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. ⁴¹Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. ⁴²Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. ⁴³But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.