9.21.2005


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

5 comments:

83princess said...

I appreciate your writings! This is what I needed today. Gives me something to think on.
:-)
Have a great day!

Sarah

coffeemom3 said...

Last night I prayed about a work situation and this is the second time I have read "Wait" today. Not what I want to hear, but needed.

Thanks.

Anonymous said...

This is some awesome advice, many times I have had to relearn it well..usually, when I've messed up by trying to do things in MY timing - each time I do, I am the one paying the price....I let go of SOME things I tried to control with MY timing, but this one last thing, this one real big thing....the destruction of ME not doing it in GODS timing, well...let's just leave it as this, it is going to take GREAT mercy, grace, love and forgiveness from God and a tremendous miracle to wipe away my mistakes that automatically came about-all in the name of not trusting in 'waiting'....thank you for this message, it's a hard pill to swallow sometimes....

Anonymous said...

Sometimes The Lord answers in days, other times I have been waiting for over six years for an answer.

Anonymous said...

I am trying to find the quote from Pilgram's Progress, do you have the page numbers?