Simeon and Anna: Patient Waiting

As we get closer to Christmas, let's talk about two people who were not part of the chaos but part of the quiet, patient anticipation: Simeon and Anna.

They were two elderly saints who spent their lives waiting in the Temple for the promised Messiah. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple for the purification ceremony, Simeon and Anna finally received their reward.

Luke 2:25 (KJV) says Simeon was "just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him."

Think about that phrase: "waiting for the consolation of Israel." He wasn't just passively waiting; he was actively expecting God to fulfill His promise, and the Holy Ghost was upon him for his faithfulness. When he finally saw the baby, he took Him in his arms and declared (v. 30): "For mine eyes have seen thy salvation."

Anna, a prophetess, was also there. Luke 2:38 (KJV) says that she "gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem."

What an incredible lesson in steadfastness! These two individuals modeled what it means to keep believing in God’s promises, even when the wait is long and the promise seems deferred.

What are you waiting for right now? Maybe you're waiting for a prayer to be answered, a relationship to heal, or a difficult season to end. It can be exhausting. The temptation is to give up, grow cynical, or stop believing that God will show up.

Simeon and Anna show us that patient waiting is not lazy; it is an active act of faith fueled by the Holy Ghost. They didn't miss the Messiah because they never left the place of expectation.

My encouragement today is that if God has given you a promise—a word from Scripture, a hope planted in your heart, or a conviction about His faithfulness—then keep waiting for the "performance of those things which were told" you (as Elizabeth said earlier!).

Your patience will be rewarded. Like Simeon, your eyes will see His salvation, and like Anna, your mouth will be filled with worship and testimony. Don't lose heart; the faithful Savior is worth the wait.