Do you remember when you were a child with anticipation for your birthday or Christmas?  Perhaps you were excited to know that your grandparents were coming to your house.  Those days seemed to go on forever.  You couldn’t help but ask your parents multiple times when the event would take place.  Remember their reply, “In a little while”.  This little phrase was used sometimes as a pacifier in order to find some relief from your constant asking.  But other times it was used as consolation to let you know that the time was indeed coming.  Is there a time for “in a little while” in our lives today?  Yes, very much so as we travel this road on which God has called us to walk.  We need the consolation from our Father, “in a little while”.

“My mom is sick and will never get better.  How can I carry on from day to day?”

This scenario is one of waiting for an outcome that will only bring more sorrow.  The loss of a parent is hard but so is caring for one who is ill.  The waiting for us is hard because we don’t know how long we will have to wait.  Our Father says to us, “In a little while”.  “Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10

“I’ve lost my baby.  I am utterly devastated.  Will I ever be pregnant again?”

The loss of a child is a very deep grief.  As a mother you have carried this one inside of you so the attachment is real.  It’s okay to have great sorrow over this loss.  You are sad.  Sadness should be expressed.  It is not commendable to ignore this loss.  It is right to acknowledge it.  How long does the deep grief last?  When will it be over?  Our Father says to us, “In a little while”.  “…the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words…Christ Jesus…who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”  Romans 8:26b, 34

“There is downsizing going on at my work and I am the one who got cut.  What am I going to do?  My income is needed.”

Financial problems hit all of us at one time or another.  We can be in a position of feast or famine.  When the money is coming in, we enjoy it and depend on it.  But when the money isn’t coming in, we can choose to panic and be in despair as we worry about food, clothes and shelter.  These are hard times to work through especially if it becomes difficult to find another job.  Our Father says to us, “In a little while”.  “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

These are only a few examples of life and how hard it hits us.  Our Father, God, gives us consolation from His Word.  This means that God provides truth for us so that we will be less disappointed and more hopeful in the circumstance.  He gives us hope by letting us know He cares, and we can trust Him in the midst of any situation.  Sometimes we have multiple situations at once which cause us to feel overwhelmed and hopeless.  We need to hear His words to us, “In a little while”.  We don’t always know where to find those words so we have to depend on what we do know.  It’s a good time to rehearse our knowledge of God’s character.  We know He is good, so even in the midst of these hard situations, we can tell ourselves He is good which will bring about consolation for us.

One day we will have more than consolation; we will have sight.  That day will be greater than we can comprehend.  John describes it for us.

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.  He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”  Revelations 21:3-4

Do you hear what He is saying to us here?  “In a little while”.   We can hang on in this world because we know what is coming in the next.  Find your consolation in Him today.

In a little while      “Come, Lord Jesus!” Revelations 22:20b