Wait

"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." - Psalm 27:14

This command is given to us because God knows that it is not easy to wait, especially if we have been waiting a long time. Psalm 27 is a prayer to God for help. It illustrates beautifully the meaning of waiting on the LORD.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word "wait?"

My first reaction is "What do I do whilst I am waiting!"

When we are waiting, we often think of it as being passive, not doing anything beside sitting or standing:

• Sitting in a traffic jam,

• Queuing to go into a cinema,

• Waiting for important test results,

• Waiting for God to answer our prayers.

• Waiting just seems like such a waste of time!

In our waiting, we have a tendency to take matters into our own hands and complain, get angry and despair! This leads to doubt that God has seen or heard us, that He is not answering our prayers, or has the ability, and we place our trust more in people, than in God. When we become impatient in our waiting, we can be tempted to rush ahead of God to make things happen.

Are you in a period of waiting?

We are in good company when we are in a waiting season. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for a son and Moses tended sheep for 40 years before leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Joseph waited 13 years for his suffering to be redeemed, and Jesus waited 30 years before He began His ministry.

Biblical waiting is not passive, but is demonstrated by active dependence upon and obedience to God. Good things take time. We can either embrace our wait, or fight against it. Too many times we waste the wait, but waiting on God, is a deeply personal and transformative experience that requires trust, patience and active faith.

For me, it's been a journey of learning to trust that God's plans are far greater than my own. God is sovereign and if He wants something to happen, it will happen! Even when it is hard to see, God is working behind the scenes, aligning everything for our good. Waiting on the LORD is believing His timing is perfect, and that He will fulfil His promises in ways beyond our imagination.

C. S. Lewis (Mere Christianity) says:

 "Wait on the LORD" is a constant refrain in the Psalms, and it is a necessary word, for God often keeps us waiting. He is not in such a hurry as we are, and it is not His way to give more light on the future than we need for action in the present, or to guide us more than one step at a time. When in doubt, do nothing, but continue to wait on God. When action is needed, light will come.

So how do we wait on the LORD?

- Seek His presence by setting aside dedicated time each day for prayer, worship and reading the Bible; this helps to cultivate a deeper relationship with God.

-Trust in His timing, not our own. Practically, this can mean not rushing into decisions out of impatience, but instead, seek God's guidance through prayer, and believe that His plans for us are good; and that He is working all things together for our benefit, even when we cannot see the immediate results.

-Renew our strength by actively relying on God's promises and His Spirit, through immersing ourselves in God's Word, fasting and praying, and sharing our burdens with our Church family, because that helps us to stay resilient and hopeful during times of waiting.

Through patient, courageous, active trusting, seeking and prayer, we can navigate the waiting periods in our lives with a sense of purpose and peace, knowing that God is faithfully at work.

How reassuring is that!

God bless