Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.
Luke 2:28-32
Simeon, a man from Jerusalem is described as a righteous and devout man and the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he won’t die unless he sees the Lord’s Messiah. All of us have some promises given by the Lord regarding our life, our children, our family, our situations.
Do we wait upon those patiently like the devout Simeon for the promise, to see and touch with his hands?
Often, we tend to give up on our promises from God because it has taken a long time or the circumstances don’t look favourable or we have taken people’s opinion on it. So, who is leading us?
I was given a promise when my younger son was in his 12th std. that he would leave the country after his graduation and would pursue his PG abroad. Nothing looked favourable and then he was just in the 12th. When he graduated as a Biotech engineer, things got worse thanks to covid, losing my job etc. It was a stormy season but I had the grace to hold onto God’s promises and took tangible steps towards it in a hopeless situation. But then, that’s where God likes to display His power. Amidst many a challenges and impossibilities on the 5th of May 2022, my son landed in Canada to pursue his PG. Praise God! He was faithful to the last alphabet of what He had spoken.
When Simeon looked at that baby swaddled by His mother’s arms, he felt like those who dream. He took the baby, the Lord’s Messiah in his own arms and praised God, his eyes had seen what God promised him. Do you remember Paul’s journey in Acts 27, the storm and the ship-wreck? But Paul was given an assurance when all hope was lost, the angel reminded him that he had to stand before Caesar so he wont die, he had a promise from God. Acts 27: 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Paul and all 276 of them survive the ship wreck.
So Next Time You Have A Bad Situation Just Remind Yourself Of What God Has Promised You And Gain Confidence That This Ship Wreck Won’t Kill You.
If you have God given promises in your life, hang in there until you touch it, see it, even if nothing looks favourable. For in His time, it shall come to pass for sure.
Loving heavenly Father, thank you that you are faithful to the last word, help us to have patience and wait upon you faithfully. Like Simeon may we be led by the Holy Spirit into our God given promises, in Jesus mighty name. Amen!!
Sol.Lalitha Menon