Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. - Ps. 27:14

When we talk about waiting for God, its easy to confuse who is actually doing the waiting. Very often, we think of "waiting for the Lord" as if we were children obeying our parents to receive some reward. We focus on meeting his conditions, being that obedient and holy kingdom citizen who's prayers will be answered.

But there's a flip side. Perhaps we should be thinking of waiting for the Lord as if we were a child who's parent is holding back some reward that the child is not yet ready to give us. Often, as children, we don't understand why we can't see the PG-13 rated movie, or wear makeup, or what have you.

The difference between the two is this: in the former, we're focused on ourselves being ready for something. In the latter, the issue isn't so much whether or not we are ready, but whether or not the Father is ready. And the child will, oft times, think that he is ready for something long before the Father knows that the child is. Waiting for the Lord very often means waiting long past the time that we are ready...it means waiting until He is ready.

I saw moreover in my dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand, and had him into a little room, where sat two little children, each one in his chair: the name of the eldest was Passion, and of the other, Patience; Passion seemed to be much discontent, but Patience was very quiet. Then Christian asked, 'What is the reason of the discontent of Passion?' The Interpreter answered, 'The Governor of them would have him stay for his best things till the beginning of the next year, but he will have all now: but Patience is willing to wait.' -- Pilgrim's Progress

Blessed are all who wait for him! -- Isaiah 30:18