December 28: An Old Man Who Waited

How long have you been waiting for something God promised? Simeon waited his whole life.

Simeon was an old man in Jerusalem. Luke says he was righteous and devout, waiting for the comfort of Israel. And God had told him he wouldn’t die until he saw the promised Messiah. So he waited. Year after year. Decade after decade. Going to the temple. Watching. Praying.

Then one day, a young couple came in with a baby, to do what the law required for a firstborn son. And Simeon knew. He took the child in his arms and prayed what may be one of the most peaceful prayers in the Bible. Now You are releasing Your servant, Master, according to Your word, in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation.

A lifetime of waiting, and it ended with a baby in his arms.

Recovery involves a lot of waiting. Waiting for cravings to fade. Waiting for trust to be rebuilt. Waiting for finances to recover. Waiting for a child to come home. Waiting for the feeling of God’s nearness. Some of these take months. Some take years. Some, you may wait on for the rest of your life.

Simeon shows what faithful waiting looks like. He didn’t sit around. He kept showing up. He stayed close to God. He kept his eyes open. And when the promise came, he recognized it, because he’d been watching.

He also did something else. Right after his prayer, he blessed the young parents and spoke to Mary about her son’s future. His waiting turned into a word for someone else. That’s Step Twelve. What you’ve learned while waiting becomes something you can pass on.

Older people in recovery often play this role. They’ve waited through hard years. They can look at a newcomer and say, “It’s worth it. Hold on. God keeps His word.” That kind of encouragement can only come from someone who’s waited.

Whatever you’re waiting on, keep showing up. Keep watching. The promise may come in a form you don’t expect.

One thing today

Write down one promise you’re still waiting on. Then find someone newer in recovery than you, and tell them one thing you learned while you waited.

A prayer

Lord, I’m still waiting on some things. Make me faithful like Simeon. Keep my eyes open for Your answers, and let what I’ve learned while waiting encourage someone else. Amen.

Passing on hope is the work of Step Twelve.

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