In April, 2020 a Grace Covenant Church’s article stated:
“Biblical waiting is not a passive activity, but is demonstrated by active dependence upon and obedience to God.”
I’m sure others have also come to this realization. Too often we do think that if we wait, that’s what we do… wait (think – twiddle thumbs). I don’t think this is the case. If you look at God’s nature, He doesn’t waste anything – including time we are waiting, so why should we. The other part to this is our definitions of ‘dependence’ and ‘obedience’. Neither of those two words are passive and inactive. We grow our understanding about both words as they come under attack.
This article by David Giarrizzo* lists 9 things we can do as we wait:
1. ACKNOWLEDGING GOD’S SOVEREIGN CONTROL OF ALL THINGS
2. COMING TO TERMS WITH OUR DEPENDENCE UPON GOD
3. SEEKING SPIRITUAL STRENGTH FROM THE LORD
4. BEING PATIENT AND QUIET
5. REFRAINING FROM NEEDLESS FEAR AND WORRY
6. CONTINUING TO LEARN AND OBEY GOD’S COMMANDS
7. EXPECTING THE LORD TO SAVE
8. SEEKING THE LORD THROUGH CONSTANT PRAYER
9. LONGING FOR CHRIST’S FINAL RETURN
If you are anything like me you can quickly identify the number 1 issue you would have – #4 for me. Regardless, these nine points are worth considering because our lives do encompass times of waiting. And as much as I typically deplore waiting on anything or anyone, this is rarely a position that is faced at different times. Waiting can really be a great ally for us as we interact with our lives. It can help us focus on whether our next step is what we need to do… or are able to do.
Since waiting IS a fact of life, how we choose to spend that time is important. How we define and act on waiting can speak volumes. When you look at these 9 points, something should become apparently clear: acknowledging, coming, seeking, being, refraining, continuing, expecting, seeking, longing are all action works. They are words that require our active involvement. They are anything but simply ‘waiting’ words and behaviors.
Never waste your waiting times. To be honest, one of my favorite Bible verses talks about waiting:
“But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] will gain new strength and renew their power;
They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun];
They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.” (Isaiah 40:31, AMP)
This becomes the issue… what or who are we waiting on. If we wait for the Lord’s timing, how He would have us act, then in the process we WILL gain new strength and power… we WILL run and not become weary… and walk and not grow tired. How’s that for a promise. If this isn’t happening, then who has stopped you and made you wait?
How we spend our waiting time really speaks more about who we are…
*To read this article, go to: https://www.gccgilbert.org/blog/2020/4/23/9-ways-we-wait-upon-the-lord
