Waiting.....
‘WAITING IS HAAAARDDDD…”. Any mom has heard that phrase in the distinct whine that only a denied child can conjure. But, no matter the age. No matter the maturity of our faith. WAITING IS HARD.
Life on this side of Heaven is full of waiting…. We wait for:
love. marriage. children. a degree. the job. financial security. direction. uncovering our purpose. physical healing. emotional healing. daylight at the end of a hard season.
In the waiting, we are vulnerable because we are broken. Waiting….needs or wants delayed…can harden our hearts to those who seem to have what we desire: jealousy, comparison, resentment, anger, bitterness. Waiting can plant seeds of fear, doubt, worry, and anxiety. Waiting can diminish faith: why me? why not me? what if? It can turn us from dependence on Jesus to rebellious self-reliance; it can make us question God’s very nature: His faithfulness, steadfast love, righteousness, and goodness.
But where we are vulnerable and broken…there is Christ. We must wait at the foot of the Cross. Under the shelter of God’s wings. Fully armored. We must wait like Christ:
“Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.” Psalm 37:7
The Wednesday prior to His crucifixion, although nothing is recorded, it is believed Jesus stayed in Bethany and rested. The image I’ve always had of Him on “silent Wednesday” is lovely: Jesus retreats to His friends’ home (most likely Lazarus, Martha, and Mary) to seek His father’s presence. Psalm 37:7, for me, captures how Jesus chose to wait—knowing full well the horrors he must endure but that through His obedience: SALVATION—
JESUS WAITS IN STILLNESS.
As it is used here in Psalm 37:7, be still means: “to hold peace” “to quiet self” “rest” “be silent” “to die to self”
In His Father’s presence, Jesus finds rest. He silences his own desires and fears to wait patiently on His Father’s will (Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:41-44). In stillness, Jesus finds what we all find when we wait on the Lord & in the waiting, surrender to His plan: peace.
Whatever waiting season you find yourself in:
KNOW: GOD IS FAITHFUL, STEADFAST, RIGHTEOUS & GOOD.
IT ISN’T A PUNISHMENT. HE IS EQUIPPING, STRENGTHENING OR PROTECTING.
HIS ANSWER WILL COME. HIS TIMING IS PERFECT.
WAITING REMINDS US TO DEPEND ON GOD. HE IS IN CONTROL. HIS PLANS ARE GOOD.
ACT: TURN FROM SELF.
LIFT OTHERS IN PRAYER: THOSE IN WAITING, HARD, OR ABUNDANT SEASONS.
PRAISE GOD AND GIVE THANKS FOR ALL YOUR BLESSINGS.
SERVE. BE JESUS’S HANDS & FEET.
SEEK GOD THROUGH HIS WORD TO ALIGN YOUR DESIRES WITH HIS. TO BE SPIRIT-LED.
WAIT LIKE CHRIST:
HE CHOSE TO BE STILL.
HE CHOSE TO SEEK HIS FATHER.
HE CHOSE SURRENDER & OBEDIENCE.
HE DID NOT WORRY.
HE DID NOT FRET.
ARMOR UP:
ISAIAH 41:13
PSALM 130:5-6
PROVERBS 3:5-6
LAMENTATIONS 3:25
MICAH 7:7
PSALM 27:13-14
HEBREWS 6:15
PSALM 40:1
ROMANS 8:25-27
1 JOHN 5:14-15
Waiting is hard!
BUT GOD IS GOOD.