Wait

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Waiting:

Something I’m not good at.

Ever.

It’s even worse when I’m waiting for something I know is going to be fun and exciting. Thanksgiving is the holiday that I look forward to the most. My nieces and nephews come in from out of town and usually stay for at least a day or two. There are many board games, and other activities that I love. As it gets close to that time of year, I start getting more and more excited. It seems like it takes forever for everyone to arrive, and I get keyed up and ready to enjoy the fellowship, but there are meals to prepare and dishes to wash. True to my nature, I easily get distracted and wander off to start a conversation, and by doing so, I’m actually giving us less time to spend all together. I work every year to have more prepared ahead of time, more stuff ready, so that the day goes smoothly and we get to hang out longer. I do as much prep work as possible, but all of that doesn’t make the day get here any faster.

I have similar issues in my spiritual life. There are things that I can’t wait to see… souls saved, people joining our little body, spiritual revivals occurring. Recently, I have realized that I have become increasingly frustrated that God isn’t moving when and how I think He should. During a conversation with a dear friend last week, we both realized that our prayer life has been struggling because we are ready for God to do something that seems like it should be in His will, but we want it NOW! I don’t know about her, but I just felt like the prep work had been laid. Sermons had been full of the spirit, there were lost in the congregation, and the Lord was definitely in the services. Testimonies were heartfelt and moving… but no people were. The thing is: we don’t know everything, we don’t know what He’s doing in people’s hearts. We need to learn to wait on His perfect timing.

I am ashamed that I allowed myself to get frustrated. I serve a God that is all-seeing, all-knowing, and all-powerful. Who am I to think I know better than what He has planned? Or even to lack the trust that He is doing exactly what is right. I needed to re-evaluate my own faith in the situation. There are many promises to those that wait upon the Lord. What he has in store for us is beyond anything we could plan for ourselves.

 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. Isaiah 64:4

Since beginning to walk closer with the Lord in the past few months, I just want to jump on every soapbox I can find and shout His goodness and faithfulness to everyone I speak to, especially my fellow Christians. My heart screams, “You’re missing out on something better than what you’re living now! There is more to find deeper, more when you trust more, more to learn, more to hear from Him, so much MORE! Come and get it! He’s waiting for you to want it, to ask for it.” That’s the thing, though, isn’t it? I can’t make anyone want a deeper relationship with Him anymore than I can make them seek one in the first place. I can ‘talk ‘til I’m blue in the face’ as my grandparents would say, and until they have that desire within themselves, it doesn’t matter. I can, and do, pray that they will be drawn deeper into their faith by the Holy Spirit, and follow His lead. And, I can share my own experience, like I’m doing right now.

The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:24-26

So, what are we to do? Just wait? I don’t think the Lord ever wants one of His children to stop serving Him, even if we are waiting for Him. You can find multiple responsibilities of the children of God all throughout the scriptures. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 is one such place. Verses 14-16 alone will keep most of us busy… but, there are many more duties listed in the chapter:

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:14-16

But, are there times when for a moment we need to take time to “be still” in our soul? Sure, but I think even then there are activities we’re responsible for. Above all else, though, we are responsible to understand who we are, and who we aren’t: David, in Psalm 131, displays a wonderful understanding of this: We are called to be meek and lowly, acknowledging His Lordship, and allowing ourselves to be led by Him in all matters.

Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever. Psalm 131

I finally had to ask myself: Do I trust Him? Yes, I do… and so… I wait. I wait with anticipation for the wonders He can and will do. I wait while continuing to pray, continuing to work, and continuing to trust in His faithfulness. He has never failed us, and He never will.