Did you know that the average person spends 41.6 hours per year waiting at red lights? Or that we spend about 121.3 hours per year waiting in lines at doctors’ offices, at the grocery check out, etc? That equates to 120 days waiting at red lights in the average lifetime, and 404 days waiting in lines, offices, etc. That is a lot of waiting! It seems like we are always waiting in line to checkout at Wal-Mart, we wait in doctor’s offices, we wait for airplanes, we wait for our turn on rides, we wait for our food in restaurants, and women are certainly used to waiting for the restroom! All of this waiting can get very annoying at times, but really it is so much a part of our lives that we are used to it and expect it.
There is a type of waiting in our lives as Christians that is so much harder though, and that is when it’s time to wait on the Lord. How many of us, or our dear friends or family, are waiting on the cure to a serious disease? How many of us are waiting on a source of income for our family in this unstable economy? How many are waiting for God’s guiding hand in making a life-changing career or educational decision? How many are waiting to meet their spouse, or have found their spouse and are waiting on the Lord to bless them with children?
I am sure that at least one, and maybe even several of these apply to all of us in one form or another. Frequently when we are in these situations we hear things such as, “Just have faith, God will provide.” Or, “Just pray about it, it will be ok.” According to Isaiah 40:31, “Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
While as Christians we KNOW these things, when you are the one staring at your critically sick child, how do you actually LIVE this type of faith? When you are the one looking at your children, knowing that you are struggling to provide for them physically, how do you actually feel the comfort that these Scriptures are meant to provide? When you are the one facing a major life decision, how do you patiently hold on and wait for the Lord’s guidance without depending solely on your own wisdom?
This is one of those aspects of Christianity that can be so much harder to do than to say. Oftentimes we find ourselves KNOWING that God is there for us, KNOWING that He loves us, KNOWING that He is listening, KNOWING that He will provide, but still struggling. KNOWING these things, but actually feeling the comfort and peace of this knowledge as we are going through a struggle can be two very different things.
Over the next few weeks, we are going to look at some practical ways we can actually feel the comfort and peace of Christ during our struggles. However, in the meantime, for those of you who are currently struggling in your “wait on the Lord,” here are some Scriptures that bring me comfort, and I pray will do the same for you:
Psalm 25:3, “Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame.”
Psalm 37:7, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.”
Isaiah 8:17, “I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.” – even when it seems like God is not watching, He is there for us!
Micah 7:7, “But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation my God will hear me.”
Galatians 5:5, “For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.” – our ultimate goal!!!
And finally:
Psalm 27:14, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”
Sisters, whatever your current struggle is, hang in there, you can do! Lord willing over the next few weeks we will all be strengthened in our individual, “waiting game”, and we can strengthen our faith together, and see the blessings that God has waiting for us!
Note: Statistics found online at: http://www.k12mobilelearning.com/2010/12/the-little-things-principle-add-9-years-of-learning-to-your-life-with-mobile-devices/
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