Faithful in the Waiting

Over the past several weeks, we’ve journeyed through the Old Testament’s Minor Prophets. These twelve books are filled with God’s calls to repentance, His reminders of unfailing love, and His promises of restoration. Each prophet carried a unique message for God’s people, yet together they painted a picture of His heart and His plan. Today, we close this series with the book of Malachi. These closing verses of the Old Testament look back to the law of Moses, forward to the coming Messiah, and invite us to remain faithful in the waiting.
The book of Malachi closes the Old Testament with a conversation between God and His people. They had returned from exile and rebuilt the temple, but their worship had grown halfhearted and their devotion had cooled. Into that spiritual drift, God speaks words of love, correction, and promise.
Malachi’s message unfolds in three parts: God reminds them of His unfailing love (1:2), calls them to renewed faithfulness, and promises a coming messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord (3:1).
This isn’t just another prophetic book. It’s the final prophetic word before 400 years of silence. No new prophets. No visions. No fresh revelation. But the silence wasn’t God’s absence; it was His preparation. When He spoke again, it was through John the Baptist announcing Jesus, the Messiah to whom Malachi had pointed.
Malachi’s closing words look back to Moses (the law) and forward to Elijah (the prophet), tying the Old Testament story together while pointing toward its fulfillment in Christ. The people were left with a call to faithfulness in the waiting. A call that’s still ours today.
We also live in an “in-between.” We’re between Christ’s first coming and His return. Malachi reminds us that God’s last word before silence was love, that faithfulness matters in the waiting, and that His promises hold even when heaven feels quiet.
Journal | Where in your life do you feel like you’re in a season of waiting or silence? How might God be using this time to prepare you for what’s next?
Prayer | “Lord, thank You for Your unchanging love. Help me to remain faithful in the waiting and to trust that even in silence, You are working. Prepare my heart for the things You have promised, and keep me looking toward Jesus, the One who fulfills every word. Amen.”
The book of Malachi closes the Old Testament with a conversation between God and His people. They had returned from exile and rebuilt the temple, but their worship had grown halfhearted and their devotion had cooled. Into that spiritual drift, God speaks words of love, correction, and promise.
Malachi’s message unfolds in three parts: God reminds them of His unfailing love (1:2), calls them to renewed faithfulness, and promises a coming messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord (3:1).
This isn’t just another prophetic book. It’s the final prophetic word before 400 years of silence. No new prophets. No visions. No fresh revelation. But the silence wasn’t God’s absence; it was His preparation. When He spoke again, it was through John the Baptist announcing Jesus, the Messiah to whom Malachi had pointed.
Malachi’s closing words look back to Moses (the law) and forward to Elijah (the prophet), tying the Old Testament story together while pointing toward its fulfillment in Christ. The people were left with a call to faithfulness in the waiting. A call that’s still ours today.
We also live in an “in-between.” We’re between Christ’s first coming and His return. Malachi reminds us that God’s last word before silence was love, that faithfulness matters in the waiting, and that His promises hold even when heaven feels quiet.
Journal | Where in your life do you feel like you’re in a season of waiting or silence? How might God be using this time to prepare you for what’s next?
Prayer | “Lord, thank You for Your unchanging love. Help me to remain faithful in the waiting and to trust that even in silence, You are working. Prepare my heart for the things You have promised, and keep me looking toward Jesus, the One who fulfills every word. Amen.”
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