Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord.

Psalm 27:14 KJV

The Convair 880 had taxied out to the strip approaching the runway. The voice of the captain came over the intercom announcing, “Ladies and gentlemen, we are number 12 in line for takeoff. We may expect a delay of 15 to 20 minutes.” His words brought a concerted groan of impatience from the passengers in the plane.

Chafing restlessness and desire for action seem to be trademarks of our age. The business of waiting is difficult. Christians sometimes display the same trait in their attitude toward God and His dealings with them—especially when His providence seems strange or restricting. We can never lose time, however, by waiting on the Lord. The word “wait” in Psalm 27 means “to trust or hope.” What better way could we as believers spend our days than by putting our confidence in the Lord, even when He asks us to mark time? We are actually depending upon an all-knowing, all-powerful Heavenly Father. We may be assured that He will bring to completion His perfect plans for us. The perplexing problems of the present have already been solved in His wise design. Our impatience belies our dependence upon Him.

A church secretary inserted the following item in the weekly bulletin: “You can make the clock strike before the hour by putting your own hand on it, but it will strike wrong. You can tear the rosebud open before its time, but you will mar its beauty. So, you may spoil many gifts of blessing God is preparing for you because of your own eager haste.” His plan for your life is perfect; therefore, waiting on God is never time wasted! — P.R.V.

Someone sent me the above devotional excerpt as a note of encouragement when God had me grounded some years ago and I did not understand. The gravity of it tore into me with the force of the bitter wind yesterday and it became a word of conviction while taking my dog on a walk. I shoved into the day angry because I want winter to be over. I struggle when all the color is stripped out of the landscape in winter and everything appears a dull brown. I like the joy when spring arrives and days are warm. There is evidence of spring as tinges of color slowly spill out onto the landscape, but I long for warmth.

My dog, Travis, was undaunted by my bad attitude; he was just absorbed in enjoying the moment. I shoved up my defenses when God interrupted my little fit with, “I can appreciate you are a little uncomfortable, but I love you; do you believe that?” I met God’s question with silence. I think I would be a lot smarter if I paid more attention to Travis. He does not mind waiting. He trusts his best interests will be attended to without worrying. He seems much more flexible than I and possesses a genuine trust.  

When I got back to the house, God said, “Lee, why are you so angry?” I sat down and wrote out a whole pile of reasons; amazing how we stuff this stuff and let the enemy steal our joy. My list boiled down to two things: 1) I do not like to wait. 2) I have a trust issue. In my haste to have the spring corridor painted and warmth again as flavor of the day, I would have wrecked God’s creation. God have mercy. God have mercy upon me for not exhibiting the trust in my heavenly Father that my dog has in me.

It shames me to be transparent; I broke God’s heart. In the busyness of a life filled with my own agendas I had turned my face from God. We all have different ways of processing things; writing helps me unpack what God is trying to get through. After journaling my thoughts, I could look objectively at what a mess I had made by running ahead of God.

When we have offended someone, for fellowship to be restored, we have to ask for forgiveness. Repentance of my sin had to happen for forgiveness to occur. I felt godly sorrow I had turned my face from God; had demonstrated such selfishness in demanding my own desires instead of embracing God’s will. When we ask for forgiveness, we must embrace the truth we are forgiven. Our forgiveness is not contingent upon a feeling, but on the authority of God’s Word. St. John says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9 ESV).” Glory be to Thee O Christ.  

Waiting on God is never time wasted. It is as we wait on Him that we discover the reality of His love, His forgiveness, and who we are truly created to be. We discover His plan for us is perfect. My prayer for us each is that we would all always desire that.

May the peace of the Lord be always with you!

Tags: faith, hope