When We Wait

I wait all the time. I wait for the dryer to dry, for my coffee to finish brewing (Hallelujah!), for an event on the calendar, for lunchtime to arrive, for life direction, for feed to finish filling the bag, and for the computer page to load. I wait for answers, for bedtime, the reply to a text, the dishes to be finished, menstrual cramps to end, and so on.

Last July, I was waiting for an answer from the Lord. I needed the answer in a timely way and I was at a loss. I had called my mom just as soon as I was able and sobbed out my fears and hesitations in making such a decision I was having to make. I didn't like being an adult. It was so much easier when I was 7 years old and all my decisions were made for me! Both my parents were supportive of me, but this was a decision I was going to have to make for myself. Finally, there was nothing for me to do except getting alone with Jesus.

Sitting under a covered bridge with my Bible and journal, I sought God for a clear answer.

I am one of those who likes everything planned out and definitely can overthink things (my journal entry from that day definitely proves that). My natural instinct is to weigh out EVERYTHING in my mind and judge accordingly, but is that God's way? When Jesus came to the disciples walking on the water and when Peter told the Lord to bid him come to Him walking on the water, Jesus didn't stop and have Peter weigh all the options, the scientific probabilities, or the statistical possibilities. He had Peter comes out of the boat on trust, committing all to the Lord and simply believing that Jesus was there with him. Stepping out of the boat on the water was an act of faith, waiting on God requires faith bigger than what we can see and that is what I sought God for that day. 

I found peace in one of my favorite passages of scripture, Psalm 37:3-7.

"Trust in the Lord, and do good so shalt thou dwell in the land, and 

verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and He shall 

give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust 

also in Him: and He shall bring it to pass. And He shall bring forth thy righteousness

as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the

Lord, and wait patiently for Him..."

Below, I have taken from one of my favorite authors, Elisabeth Elliot, her thoughts of waiting based on Psalm 37.

Psalm 37 lists the principal elements of this hidden activity, a perfect formula for peace of mind:

Trust in the Lord and do good.

Dwell in the land (make your home, settle down, be at peace where God puts you).

Delight in the Lord (make the Lord your only joy) and He will give you what your heart desires.

Commit your life to the Lord.

Trust in Him and He will act. 

Be quiet before the Lord.

Wait patiently for Him, not worrying about others.

Waiting patiently is almost impossible unless we also are learning at the same time to find joy in the Lord, commit everything to Him, trust Him, and be quiet. 

I have several dates in my Bible written around these 5 verses. All are dates when God was asking me to leave it to Him, to still my heart before Him, to trust in His sovereignty, to walk in true faith, not seeing the end of the story, but believing that I had an all-knowing Savior who not only knows but as written the end of my story. I have placed all my faith of my eternal salvation in Jesus, shouldn't I trust Him when I am waiting too?

Waiting is not “doing nothing,” just waiting for God to drop a sign into my lap, but it is stilling my heart before Him, seeking Him above all else, surrendering all my “talents” before Him to use, and trusting that His plan is best for me...no matter what.

“Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall...” Ruth 3:18a