Learning to Wait by Bryan Craig

“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.”  Isaiah 40:31

In this instant gratification culture in which we live, the concept of “waiting” seems almost tabu.  We have fast food, fast internet, fast cars, fast friends, immediate feedback, instant results, get now and pay later, quick and easy.  My parents tried to teach me growing up that when faced with a big financial decision, it was always better to sleep on it.  That way, if you are getting caught up in the emotion of a moment, you can see the next day, with a clear head, if the impulse to make the deal seems as strong.  Any time someone is trying to pressure me to make a decision, especially a big decision, my default is to pause.

I believe this is the way Jesus lived His life and modeled for us.  It was a much slower pace, taking time for individuals, intentional, methodical, following the Holy Spirit.  Waiting allows space for us to pray, to ask the Lord what He wants us to do or see.  Telling someone, “Let me pray about it,” is not just some spiritual phrase or a way to put somebody off.  It really is wise and best to pray about everything, for I do believe the Spirit wants to guide us.

This is difficult, however.  We tend to make rash decisions based on our intelligent deciphering or emotional instincts and this often causes us to make the wrong decisions.  It’s hard to wait.  How long? Until we have clarity?  Until we have confirmation?

I believe the Lord has to train us to wait.  He does this by not answering our prayers at times.  How many unanswered prayers have you prayed?  This can be so difficult when God seems quiet.  When this happens to me, I always think of the scene when the disciples were in a boat in a storm and Jesus was asleep in the stern.  They woke him up, saying “Don’t you care that we are about to drown?”  (See Matthew 8:23-27)

Jesus chastises their lack of faith and calms the storm immediately.  It is in our waiting, when He tests our faith.  Do we really believe He is in control, that He knows what is best?  He is the only One who knows the future, knows us best and knows His plans for us.  Can we wait on Him to show us the way?

The verse at the top of this devotional is one of many that speaks to the value of waiting on the Lord: “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.”

As we learn to wait on the Lord, something amazingly supernatural and powerful happens within us.  We get stronger, more energetic, more faithful, more disciplined and actually, we become more alert and ready to do the things God is preparing us for.  Our lives become less about what we want and more about what He wants. Then, when He is ready for us to do something, we will be ready.  

Galatians 5:25 says, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”  This is the life of waiting on the Lord.  But it is not passive, just sitting on the couch.  It is praying and watching, while we wait.  

Isaiah 30:20-21 says: And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.  And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

We keep moving, slowly, prayerfully, taking one step at a time in the Spirit, and He will guide our path.  

I want to say, “It’s never bad to wait.”  But that’s not totally true.  There are times when the Lord needs quick action.  When would that be?

We must move quickly when love is needed, when forgiveness is needed, when someone is in need and we can help, when we feel the Lord prompting us to do something.   These are the times the Lord has been preparing us for in the times of waiting.  

So if you feel you are in a season of waiting, take heart.  God is doing a great work, and you just can’t see it yet.  Trust Him and keep praying and watching.