Daily Bible Reading Plans to help you read and understand God’s Word

Scripture Reading: Revelation 3:20, Romans 13:11-14, 1 Peter 1:3-21

If heaven had a dictionary, the definition for short would be vastly different than yours and mine.

In the context of time, we think short means insignificant, a gap between more important things...

“I’m going to take a short walk.”
“Do you have time for a short phone call?”
“Let’s take a short break.”

But the Lord must have a different kind of short in mind. That is, after all, how His Word describes the season we all find ourselves in.

Even though for now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials.
—1 Peter 1:6 (emphasis mine)

No one would describe their season of suffering, no matter how long it takes, as short. That’s true of the little “w” waits we endure as we navigate illness, heartache, and need. It’s especially true of the big “W” wait we’re all enduring as we long for Jesus to come back and establish His kingdom of righteousness and love. It’s been two millennia since His ascension! The wait feels anything but short.

The weeks after Christmas can feel like a parable of this reality.

We’ve seen His glory. We’ve tasted His goodness. We’ve felt the warmth that only comes when many in the world are united around worshiping Him. The contrast is too stark. The darkness is less tolerable now. The wait until Christmas comes again feels impossibly long. Our souls groan, “Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus.” We’ve seen too great a light to trudge through the darkness for another year.

Ah, but we are one Christmas closer to seeing our Savior face-to-face. Whether He grants you eight Christmases or eighty, each one is moving you toward the moment when you will leave this world behind and enter the place He’s been preparing for you.

However long He asks us to hold on, it will feel short compared to an eternity with Him. Through His Word, He has given us the recipe for waiting well.

Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
—1 Peter 1:13

Think about Jesus.
Dwell on Jesus.
Talk about Jesus.
Sing to Jesus.
Obsess over Jesus.

Pass the time, however long it may be, between this moment and the moment you see Him face-to-face considering the One who has promised to make all things new.

Oh Lord, we long to be with you. As the darkness of January stretches out before us, we are tempted to grow faint, but we know the Light is coming. Light of the World, you are coming back. Superglue our eyes to you as we wait for your glorious return. Amen.

Written by Erin Davis