Isaiah40:31: “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Are you finding yourself in what I call “being in the wait?” Nothing appears to be happening to solve your current trial in life right now. Or are you in a holding pattern in waiting for a specific answer? Do you feel as though you are in a blind state of existence? You know God is there, and He will answer your need, but you have no idea how He is going to do it and the clock is ticking. You are in a predicament that is perhaps causing your breathing to be a bit shallow. Your stress level has risen to a ten and you wish for it to be just a two or three on the scale from one to ten (ten being the worst). I have had that recently. I often do laundry when I am feeling anxious and waiting for the outcome of a problem I am enduring. For some reason, it is my stress reliever, temporarily. My other choice is doing one of the workout sessions we record every morning from the PBS station on TV. It is Miranda Esmonde-White’s, Classical Stretch program that is on at 6:00 AM. She promotes flexibility, releasing tension in your muscles, and improving posture and range of motion. What is your go-to for stress relief?
Here are some statistics regarding that word “wait” in the Bible: The word wait occurs 109 times in the KJV. The word “wait” comes from the same Hebrew word “trust.” The phrase “waiting upon God” is used 40+ times throughout the Bible. The Psalm’s uses it 25 times while Isaiah uses it 11 times. Waiting and then trusting in God go together. It requires having blind faith and believing that God will provide. When I took Old Testament Survey, at Northwestern College in Roseville, Minnesota, in my 20’s, Dr. Hartel, our professor, would often tell us if we had a burden about our tuition bill and needed money to pray “Jehovah Jireh,” which means “God will provide.”
What is ahead? I can’t see the future.
Are you facing a trial where you don’t know how God will ever fix or solve a situation? I recently had to wait for answers to two separate health issues. I could do absolutely nothing but wait until my appointments to see the doctors. I didn’t know what the outcome would be. It was out of my control. I was fortunate this time. Then there is another situation I will be facing that I don’t know again what the outcome will be. I can’t see what the future will hold. All I can do is pray and trust in God that He has this.
There is always a deeper meaning, even though irritating, when God has us “in the wait.” When it seems that God is doing nothing, He is behind the curtain. It usually involves perfection of an outcome that is beyond our control. God’s timing is supreme. God’s timing is perfect. Pray that God will astound you with His exact ideal solution (see my first post) while you are “in the wait.”
Chuck Swindoll had said in one of his devotional writings about trusting God during the waiting period, and not going into panic mode when people break their promises to us and even forget us. That hurts! I have been there. Done that! He said it is God’s job to deal with them. My husband and I experienced a broken promise from someone. We are “in the wait.” Yes, it hurt. Again we had to pray: “God provide in all of this!”
If you are “being in the wait” be strengthened and established in His word. Have God-confidence. Have reassurance that God has this and will provide the outcome at His chosen time. Write down in a prayer journal verses that encourage you. Hebrews 10:36 admonishes us to keep on going and doing the will of God: “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”
Romans 12:12: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Lastly, know that events are happening behind the scenes that God is orchestrating. He is behind the curtain. When it seems like nothing is happening or going on, it is. Our inward self-fortitude is being changed while we are “in the wait.” It is being stretched like a rubber band. I can be bitter or be made better in gaining more perseverance in tolerance and patience, and in choosing joy instead of depression. When it seems that nothing is going on, take heart. It is another exercise of growing in endurance and growing in being established in having more faith, perfected, and refined as in pure gold for God’s glory. Trust in the Lord while being “in the wait!”
Refreshing and a nice way to start my Monday.
AMEN!!! Love this, Linda!
We recently experienced a time that we had to wait upon God for quite a long period of time, while trusting Him for the outcome and answer to our prayer. NOW, we are rejoicing over His answer which was perfectly timed and no one BUT GOD, could have done!!!
Praising our God right along with you, Lisa! Love being astounded!
It is the coolest thing to read your blog! Thank you for sharing your words and devotion. You never know how much you impact someone with your words. One of my favorite sermons was about unanswered prayers. The need to have faith and truly trust in the Lord that our prayers were always answered, but not necessarily in the way we ask. Having faith at times can be difficult when life seems to be going of course. I have to remind myself, this is not my burden to hold onto. Give it to God in prayer. He will take care of my burdens. Thank you again for sharing your faith! They couldn’t have come at a better time.
Margarita, thank you for your encouraging words! Yes it is hard when we don’t get immediate answers to prayers, but you are right. We have to just keep giving it to Him over and over and over again.