Waiting

Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr

"Waiting" By Diane Webb

Psalms 27: 14—"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy heart; wait, I say, on the Lord".

It's hard to wait, especially when things are tough where we are. When we are in a bad situation, many of us first think to run—get away from it. We start looking at the employment section of the paper and brushing up our resumes. We start visiting other churches. We start looking for an attorney. We begin looking for homes for sale or rent. Sometimes we are supposed to leave a bad situation. Other times we are required to wait it out. Waiting for the Lord to do his work on you—especially when He is building up your skills—is not always pleasant. This verse promises God will strengthen you while you wait on Him. He is working in you and on you. The working on you is the part that sometimes gets difficult. We love it when God works through us. We feel honored and important for God to be able to use us. It energizes us and we feel great. But how can He use us unless he prepares us and builds up the very skills we need to do His work? The skills have more to do with character traits and personality than technical skills. He needs us to have the right attitude--the right spirit, when we represent Him in this world. When you have the urge to run from a situation; pause briefly to discern what God wants you to do. Sometimes He tells us to stand firm and sometimes he tells us to wait on Him. Today's verse is about waiting on the Lord. There is the encouragement to "be of good courage" and the promise God will strengthen your heart as you wait. The "wait" is emphasized. Patience is a wonderful quality to have but most of us are not born with it. We have to develop it over time. We've all be warned not to pray for patience yet patience is the very thing we need the most. Being patient with a person and a situation that is not exactly inspiring patience sends a great message to those who are watching. Nothing is more impressive than someone maintaining their composure in the midst of chaos, conflict, or crisis. The "strengthen your heart" part has to do with keeping you strong so you won't get discouraged. Besides impatience, discouragement is something else that keeps us from developing the skills or traits we need to do God's work. Discouragement serves no positive purpose. It only brings you down and it brings others down around you. Through Psalms 27: 14 we therefore learn the importance of being patient while the Lord is working on us and allowing Him to build us up so we will not get discouraged while we wait. With our focus on God and his purpose, we can be strong, cheerful, and patient. What wonderful gifts for simply waiting. Think about this the next time you are in line at the store. The longer you have to wait the better it is. Think, "I am waiting on the Lord" while you sit in the waiting room long after your appointment was scheduled. Look around and see what the Lord has set before you while you wait. Perhaps you are meant to talk to the lady sitting next to you or the man standing behind you. While you wait you are learning patience and building strength against discouragement. Maybe the reason you always seem to catch the red light, get behind the log truck, or get in the line that needs a price check is that God is working on you—building up your patience and strength. Praise God!

Dear Lord, I thank you for the work you are doing in me and on me. I don't always appreciate the skills I am learning during some of the waiting periods in my life. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunities you give me to learn and grow in both patience and optimism. I praise you today. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.