等候，可以是充满热切的期待——就像孩子们等待圣诞节来临，青少年等待拿到自己的驾照，成年人怀着喜乐等待他们的婚礼、或第一个孩子的来到。
等候也可以是十分艰难的。比如父母在孩子遭遇意外后，焦急地等待医疗检查与评估。当我们失去工作或配偶病重时，我们怀着沉重的心，等待神向我们显明祂的看顾并供应我们的需要。
以赛亚书40章开始于安慰，结束于盼望。其中说，那些等候主并把盼望寄予祂身上的人，必从新得力。“他们必如鹰展翅上腾，他们奔跑却不困倦，行走却不疲乏。”
这是何等美好的应许，然而我们仍然真实地体会到，我们多么盼望等候能快快过去，我们的心底仍然伤痛，多么需要神的安慰。那么，我们在主里的盼望是徒然吗？绝对不是！因为耶稣这位神的羔羊，已经得胜，坐在宝座上。祂呼召我们去传扬祂已经来到，并且还要再来的这个大好信息。而在耶稣再来以前，我们也要像祂一样，去承受这世界的苦难。所以我们每日都要祈求神的国降临，我们深愿祂的旨意成就。
神啊，我们的人生充满等待。有时我们怀着喜乐地期待，有时害怕面对下一个天明。愿我们的盼望总在祢里面，祢是那位为我们来到，并且还要再来的君王。奉祢的名祷告，阿们。
以赛亚书 40:25-31; 启示录 6:9-11
25那圣者说：你们将谁比我， 叫他与我相等呢？
26你们向上举目， 看谁创造这万象， 按数目领出， 他一一称其名； 因他的权能， 又因他的大能大力， 连一个都不缺。
27 雅各啊，你为何说， 我的道路向耶和华隐藏？ 以色列啊，你为何言， 我的冤屈神并不查问？
28你岂不曾知道吗？ 你岂不曾听见吗？ 永在的神耶和华，创造地极的主， 并不疲乏，也不困倦； 他的智慧无法测度。
29疲乏的，他赐能力； 软弱的，他加力量。
30就是少年人也要疲乏困倦； 强壮的也必全然跌倒。
31但那等候耶和华的必重新得力。 他们必如鹰展翅上腾； 他们奔跑却不困倦， 行走却不疲乏。
9揭开第五印的时候，我看见在祭坛底下，有为神的道、并为作见证被杀之人的灵魂，
10大声喊着说：“圣洁真实的主啊，你不审判住在地上的人，给我们伸流血的冤，要等到几时呢？”
11于是有白衣赐给他们各人；又有话对他们说，还要安息片时，等着一同作仆人的和他们的弟兄也像他们被杀，满足了数目。
"Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength." — Isaiah 40:31
Waiting can be filled with eager anticipation—children waiting for Christmas; teens waiting to get their driver's license; adults waiting with joy for their wedding day or for the arrival of their first child.
There is also a more difficult side to waiting. Parents wait anxiously for a medical assessment after their child has had an accident. When we have lost a job, or when a spouse is critically ill, we wait with heavy hearts for an indication that God is watching over us and providing for us in our need.
Isaiah 40 begins with words of comfort and ends with words of hope. Those who wait on the Lord and put their hope in him will be renewed; "they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
As wonderful as these promises are, we can all testify that we long for our days of waiting to be over as our need for comfort continues. Is our hope in the Lord in vain? Far from it! Jesus, the Lamb of God, is on the throne. We are called to declare the good news that Jesus has come and is coming again. Until that day we are called to join with him in absorbing the suffering of the world. And we pray daily for God's kingdom to come and his will to be done.
Lord, our lives are filled with waiting. Sometimes we anticipate with joy; sometimes we dread waking to another day. May our hope always be in you, our King who has come and is coming again. In your name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
