Waiting ∙
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. – Psalms 27:13-14
Isaiah 40:28-29
28 Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
The pace of the 21st century is not just fast, but it’s constantly increasing. It challenges our ability to keep up and stay updated with unfolding events. We often find ourselves waiting in one way or another: waiting in line, waiting in traffic, waiting to be seated in a restaurant, waiting for food to be served, waiting for the check, waiting for the mail, waiting at the doctor’s office, waiting for customer support, waiting for delayed flights, and waiting for postponed appointments.
So often, we hurry up and wait! At times, our lives are just on hold. How does that make us feel? How do we react emotionally? To ask the question is to answer it. We often feel frustrated, blocked, and perhaps with a simmering dash of anger.
Growth is not uniform in a tree or children of the King. There is more growth in some months than in the rest of the year. During the rest of the year, solidification takes place. Without it, the green timber would be useless. The period of rapid growth, when the woody fiber is deposited between the bark and the trunk, occupies but four to six weeks in May, June, and July (Strong).
In the immortal words of Aretha Franklin, “You better think about it; you better think about the consequences of your actions.” Too often, the children of the King miss the value of waiting. We miss the purpose of waiting. Waiting is not synonymous with wasting time in the kingdom of God. Waiting is not about doing nothing; instead, it is being prepared to do something.
As we learn to rely on our Heavenly Father, we also acquire the skill of patient waiting. This process produces within us a deep sense of trust in Him. Waiting is not passive but calls for active trust and dependence on the Father. Our inner spiritual strength and courage grow as we develop the skill of active confidence.
Waiting under the Father’s gaze is never a futile interval. Waiting on the Father is not idle time. Waiting is a time of growth and consolidation. He ingeniously utilizes these times to sculpt our character, purify our hearts, and prepare us for His service. As we obey Him, the Father will prepare each child of the King for their assignment (Blackaby).
REFLECT & PRAY
“One day in the House of Commons, British Prime Minister Disraeli made a brilliant speech on the spur of the moment. That night, a friend said to him, ‘I must tell you how much I enjoyed your extemporaneous talk. It’s been on my mind all day.’ ‘Madam,’ confessed Disraeli, ‘that extemporaneous talk has been on my mind for twenty years!’” (Miles Stanford).
Father, I am so impatient at times. I often worry that my difficult life circumstances will never end. Help me realize that You use my difficulties and trials to reveal my needs and limitations. Enable me to reach out and trust You all the more.
INSIGHT
“All growth is progressive, and the finer the organism, the longer the process. It is from measure to measure: thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and hundredfold. It is from stage to stage: ‘first the blade, then the ear, and after that, the full corn in the ear.’ And it is from day to day . . .. There are also idle days, days apparently useless when even prayer and holy service seem a burden. Are we, in any sense, renewed in these days? Yes, for any experience which makes us more aware of our need of God must contribute to spiritual progress . . .” (Graham Scroggie).
Sadly, we tend to act like sheep when we wait. We stray and wander off. It is through discipline that we learn to follow Him closely.
Psalms 119:67 I used to wander off until you disciplined me, but now I closely follow your word.
In the Father’s timing, waiting periods become crucibles in which character and integrity are meticulously forged and refined. The Father tenderly reveals what is in our hearts, often to our dismay. But then He purges and cleanses us. The Father binds us to Himself in ever deeper intimacy and spiritual union. We learn lessons of voluntary submission and obedience.
The Father is far more interested in accomplishing His kingdom purposes than we are. He will move us into every assignment when He knows we are ready to take it on. Permit the Father to adjust your orientation towards Him. A servant does not dictate the desired position to the Master. Instead, servants abide, awaiting whatever directives the Master provides (Blackaby).
13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14 Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.
In the face of challenges, or maybe even because of them, David develops stronger faith. He firmly believes that the Father will intervene and come to his aid. As a result, he anticipates experiencing God’s extraordinary goodness in the land of the living.
Psalms 27:13 . . . Unless I had believed that I would see . . ..
In this verse, David expresses an amalgamation of doubt and confidence. He acknowledges his wavering faith but also affirms his trust in God. His faith triumphs over his feelings of weakness and doubt. “His Faith rebukes his faintness” (Kirkpatrick). Through hope, faith, and trust, David encourages himself. He firmly believes that he will witness the goodness of the Lord while he is alive.
Psalms 27:13 I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
David’s determination lies in patiently waiting for the Father’s timing, understanding that God’s timing is the best timing. David encourages others to wait patiently for the Lord, to be brave and courageous in their faith, and to trust in God’s perfect timing.
Psalms 27:14 Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.
Waiting goes against our fallen nature, and waiting on God can be particularly challenging. Impatience often leads to mistakes and hinders the fulfillment of the Father’s plans. Just as abundant harvests require the plants to mature fully, waiting for the Father’s timing is essential for the best outcomes.
Despite the difficulties, David possesses audacious boldness. He encourages himself and others to “Be of good courage,” regardless of the circumstances.
Something marvelous and delightful happens when we learn to wait in confident expectation. He strengthens our hearts and imbues us with courage during this waiting period.
Waiting on God in faith is transformative. Waiting, mixed with courageous determination, results in power and strength (Butler).
During the waiting process, the Father works behind the scenes, orchestrating circumstances and aligning things according to His divine plan. He uses this time to prepare us for what is to come and to shape us into vessels capable of receiving His blessings.
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
How does the Father develop within us the ability to shepherd others? For the children of the King, it is often cultivated during periods of waiting and experiencing personal failures and inadequacies.
These moments of weakness allow us to understand our limitations and shortcomings better. Consequently, we develop patience and compassion towards the foibles of others.
When did the Lord Jesus Christ call Peter to shepherd His lambs and sheep? Was it when Peter affirmed his undying loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ (John 13:37)? No. It was when Peter utterly failed to keep his commitments and wept bitterly (John 21:15-17). This moment of brokenness and humility opened Peter’s heart to receive the calling to care for others.
When our response to waiting is as it should be, endurance is the byproduct. When trained in this way, we are not easily discouraged by others’ weaknesses or shortcomings. Once we come face-to-face with our own, we can see beyond human sinfulness, willfulness, and even foolishness. In these moments, the ability to shepherd and guide others begins to take shape within us.
David shows the way, encourages and counsels himself, and his advice has echoed down through the millennia.
Psalms 62:5 Let my soul wait in silence before God, for my hope is in him.
Paul explains he expresses this thought as his life purpose.
Acts 20:24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
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© Dr. H 2023
Dr H Reflections 