As we finish a week of reflecting on waiting and peace, I have one last thing to try.

Fourth, we can take counsel while waiting.

We can listen to those who have perspective.

When I visit the Emergency Department and talk with someone heading for a CT scan, I say, “It takes about 15 minutes.” Often, it takes less, but I at least want to give a sense of how long. I may remind a family member that Jesus promised to be with us, but that he also said that we would have trouble.

Recently, I was part of an annual memorial service. A woman came to me and introduced herself. The last time we had met was months before, in the room where her husband, unexpectedly, had died. We talked about the months since, about the struggle and the support. That conversation and others help me bring perspective when I’m offering counsel.

At the same time, we can stop listening to those who have more opinion than perspective.

People are constantly willing to say, “This worked for me. It will work for you.” This is true of health remedies, relational remedies, and spiritual remedies. “My aunt went into cardiac arrest and someone tickled her left toe and she was fine.” “Pray this prayer every day and God will give you $5,000 and a clear complexion.”

And we can stop taking counsel from the voices feeding our anxiety, particularly those who benefit from our worry.

And we can take counsel from God. We can listen to, and for, God. Often, this isn’t a voice in the darkness. Often, it is remembering something we’ve read in scripture. Or the unexpected wisdom from the one who visits at just the right moment. Often, this is the insight that comes in the minutes and hours after we’ve dumped our fears on God’s plate.

Waiting isn’t easy. Peace can be elusive.

And that’s why we long for it during this second week of Advent. And often.