Today’s Daily Bread ~ Wait

Isaiah 40:31 – But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength.  They will fly high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint.

My daughter, Caitlyn, is four years old, five in April.  With Christmas not even a month behind us; she is already anticipating the most monumental event of the year in a young child’s life:  her birthday.

Trying to explain how far away that is to her young mind is nearly impossible.  Kids live in the here and now.  According to The Everything Parent’s Guide to Raising Girls by Erika V. Shearin Karres, Ed.D., kids don’t understand time the way we do.  To quote the good doctor, “Preschoolers do not experience time in the same way adults do.  Five minutes for you may feel like an hour for your daughter.  If you expect patience, you will both be disappointed in the results.”

This morning in my prayer time, the Holy Spirit and I discussed the issue of waiting on the Lord.  Perhaps to say “discussed” is misleading.  A better way to phrase it might be this: He gently but firmly showed me how much pruning I need in that particular area.  He brought one situation after another to the forefront of my mind (nearly all of them recent), then reminded of a song we often sing at church.  “Everlasting God,” and the very first line is this – “Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord.”

To say that stopped me in my tracks is a gross understatement.  It almost knocked me over.  I have probably sung those words hundreds of times; not once has the meaning sunk in.

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.  We get stronger while we wait.

I have a tendency to answer “yes” too quickly, especially with someone I view as an authority figure; i.e. a boss, a pastor, or someone who just plain intimidates me.  What inevitably happens is this:  I agonize over the fact that I didn’t take time to pray about it, and I agonize over the fact that I’ve (once again) over-committed myself.  After a few days of sharp conviction from my Father, I go back to the person, tail between my legs, and retract my “yes.”  I then spend another few days angry with myself for creating more work for that person, and being such a wimp.  Time that could’ve been spent in joyful obedience to the Lord, seeking His will and being effective for His Kingdom.

God is showing me how weak I am when I attempt to do things on my own.  Especially when it comes to big decisions that affect others.  He is showing me that this springs up from insecurities that I have not yet surrendered to Him.  He is showing me how this reveals a desire to please others over Him.

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.

As I think of my daughter trying to “wait” for her birthday, I recognize how long three months must seem.  I’m not even sure she can grasp the concept, since she’s only just starting to understand the idea of “the day after tomorrow.”  As adults, we don’t mind waiting, as long as we know how long we have to be patient.  God rarely allows us the luxury of that knowledge.  But He does promise us this – those who wait upon the LORD will find new strength.  When the time comes to make the decision and act upon it, we will have the strength required to do it.

Here is a practical example of how this has played out in my life:  About three years ago, I started to think about leaving my job at KSCS.  For the next three years, I made Psalm 25:4-5 my prayer: Show me the path where I should walk, O LORD; Point out the right road for me to follow.  Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me.  All day long I put my hope in You.  I also wrote Jeremiah 29:13 on my heart – If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me.  Looking back on the experience, a phrase comes to mind – laboring in prayer.

What happens to people who labor?  Especially physical labor?  They get stronger.  What happens to us spiritually when we labor in prayer?  We get spiritually stronger.  Strength will rise when we wait upon the LORD.

I am much like my daughter when I labor in prayer.  I want that instant gratification, that immediate answer from God.  However, when we patiently wait upon the Lord, He is faithful to strengthen us.  His timing is impeccably perfect, down to the split second.  We do not experience time the way He does.  2 Peter 3:8 – But you must not forget, dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.”

My husband has been telling me for years to wait at least 24 hours before making big decisions.  A suggestion confirmed over and over Scripture.

Psalm 37:7 – Be still in the Presence of the LORD.  Wait patiently for Him to act.

Psalm 46:10 – Be still and know that I am God.

Psalm 27:14 – Wait patiently for the LORD.  Be brave and courageous.  Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

What is on your heart today?  Lift it up to God, and let Him shoulder the burden for you.  Then trust that your prayers have been heard and His timing is perfect.  If I had left KSCS three years ago, when the idea first occurred to me, we would’ve had a tough time.  Mike and I weren’t ready to move to one income.  Spiritually speaking, neither of us was as close to God as we are today, and we would’ve struggled in more ways than one.  But over time, God had burdened Mike’s heart with it as well, and when I gave my notice in October, I knew the time had come.  I didn’t waver, because I knew I had waited on the LORD, and I was certain of His will.

Dear Heavenly Father, we love You so much.  And we know we should wait patiently for Your answers, but patience is so difficult for us.  You tell us in Galatians 5:22 that it is a fruit of the Spirit, something that we naturally receive from You when we are earnestly seeking to live in Your will.  God, we ask that You would fill us with Your Spirit today.  We all have burdens; we all have prayers that seem to go unanswered.  Will You please assure us today that You know the concerns of our hearts, and that You ways and Your will are perfect?  We need to be constantly reminded of that.  Help us to rest in Your Presence.  Remind us of the work on the cross, which shows us how much You love us, and will go to any means necessary to draw us to Yourself.  We pray that You would bless us to be a blessing to others.  We pray that we would love like You love and shine Your light for all to see.  We pray these things in the beautiful, magnificent name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.