Scripture Reading: Luke 2:36–38
Reflection
God is always doing something in the waiting, even when we cannot see it. In Luke’s Gospel, we read about a woman named Anna—a prophetess, meaning she had a spiritual gift of declaring and interpreting God’s message. She was advanced in age and became a widow after only seven years of marriage. She spent the rest of her life as a widow, fully devoted to God.
Being a widow, Anna knew the depths of pain and grief. Yet she never wavered in her faith. She loved worship, and she was waiting for the promised Messiah to come. While she waited, she worshiped. She didn’t shrink back in sorrow; instead, she remained in the temple, fasting and praying day and night. Anna lived a lifestyle of worship.
Anna believed in the power of prayer. She knew the promises of God and trusted that the Messiah would come. We see reflected in Anna’s life that she desperately desired to be near God simply because of who He is. How many times do we come to God with an agenda—asking for answers or outcomes—rather than simply enjoying His presence? Anna shows us a different way. She clung to the truth of God’s Word, even when faced with the hardships of life. Though she experienced the loss of her husband, she didn’t become bitter toward God. Instead, she chose to praise. She experienced the abundance of life that the Lord has to offer us all. This abundant life is not found in the materialistic things the world offers, but it’s found in communion with the One who is sovereign over all things. Anna had found the secret of being content (Philippians 4:11–13). She knew that spending time with God, dwelling in His presence, and knowing Him more intimately would bring her the most joy and satisfaction.
One day, everything changed. When Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple, Anna recognized Him and began to declare to all those waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem that the promised Messiah—the One they had been longing for—had finally come!
God never wastes the waiting. Every prayer and every moment of Anna’s fasting and worship were not in vain. It was all in preparation for the moment when her faith became sight. There was purpose in all the waiting. For decades, Anna remained faithful in her devotion to God. Although her faithfulness was largely unseen by others, it did not go unnoticed by God.
And the same is true for us. When we are in the middle of a hard season of life, it’s easy to wonder if God is doing anything at all. But like Anna, we can trust that even in the waiting, God is still at work. I have seen in my own life that persistent prayer doesn’t just change my circumstances—it often changes me in the middle of the circumstance. I have found that when I come to God with my list of things I want Him to accomplish for me, He kindly shifts my heart and my perspective to align with His.
It is good and right to pray specifically. The Lord invites us to bring every concern, every disappointment, every need, and anything on our hearts before Him. He sees us, and He cares for us more than we can fathom. He loves to hear from us and to meet us where we are. But in Anna’s story, we see that prayer is more than just asking—prayer is abiding in Him.
The story of Anna’s life resonates with all of us who have waited—those walking through hardship, longing for answers, wrestling with unmet expectations, or clinging to promises that seem far off. So much of life feels like waiting for “the next thing.” But Anna shows us what it looks like to be content and to seek after the One who matters most—and that is Jesus.
May we all follow Anna’s example. May our seasons of pain, grief, waiting, and hardship turn into worship. And may we always persist in prayer—knowing that the goal is to love and know God more intimately, and to spend all our days delighting in Him.
Reflection Questions
- What are you waiting for right now? How could you turn your waiting into worship?
- Do you approach prayer to enjoy God, or mainly to receive something from Him?
- Anna boldly proclaimed the Good News—who in your life needs to hear about the hope you’ve found in Jesus?
Application
- Start a prayer journal. Write down your prayers and review them regularly to see how God is working.
- Begin a gratitude journal. Look for God’s goodness daily, especially in seasons of difficulty. Gratitude shifts your perspective from self to God.
- Set aside intentional time to pray without an agenda—simply to enjoy the presence of God.
Additional Scripture for Deeper Study
- Psalm 27
- Philippians 4:11–13
- Colossians 4:2
- Romans 12:12
Family Activity
Start a family Advent prayer journal. Read Scripture together each day or week, discuss briefly, pray as a family, and write down what God is teaching you during this season.