by Chuck Lehman
We hate to wait! Our culture’s influence has caused many of us to lose “the art of waiting.” We get angry if we need to wait a minute for our fast food. We make instant pudding, whip up instant potatoes and wish it was split second rice instead of minute rice.
We creep forward in anticipation of the changing stoplight or blow through a yellow-red light so as to not need to wait. Checkout lines in the grocery store with more than three people aggravate us in a heartbeat!
We instant message…most of us wouldn’t consider mailing a handwritten letter. At Shepherd’s Gate Inn we have the privilege of owning a commercial dish machine…it will wash a complete load of dishes, sterilized and dried, in two minutes; yet often I find myself tapping my foot and checking the time on my phone as I await the finish of the cycle! We hate to wait, waiting agitates us!
When we wait, we find it anything but restful.
The dictionary, however, defines waiting in the following two ways:
1) to rest in expectation
2) to remain or be in readiness
The secret to the lost art of waiting is to rest, anticipate and be ready! The key to resting is confident expectation. The foundation of confident expectation is to know and trust the source of that confidence and to remain ready. Waiting, therefore, is the working out of hope… expectant dependency. There is divine purpose in the pause!
Waiting is a privilege! In Scripture we are shown the pleasure gained in the opportunity of waiting on the Lord. Isaiah 40:31 tells us, “The strength of those who wait with hope in the Lord will be renewed. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and won’t become weary. They will walk and won’t grow tired.” Waiting, in Scripture language, is a term used to denote dependence and a willingness to be directed by the one waited upon.
Waiting isn’t easy, but the results of not waiting and running ahead aren’t very pleasant either. Waiting isn’t just a killing time as we often think…it is a time when God accomplishes things in a mighty way, if we are “actively patient.” Jesus tells His disciples in Luke 24:49, “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Stay in the city…wait…wait in active patience and God will empower you!
I’m sure the disciples weren’t just loafing around, they were in busy preparation for the mighty work ahead of them, but a huge part of the preparation was the waiting. If they had indeed not waited on God to clothe them with His power, they would simply been just working through their own power and that just doesn’t work!
After all the prophets of the Old Testament finished predicting the coming Savior, Jesus, there were 400 years of silence and waiting! To those watching, nothing was happening, however, God was constantly, fully working in the background to line things up for the “suddenly!” Luke 2:13-14 announces the arrival of Jesus to the shepherds…Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Four hundred years of waiting for suddenly!
I believe the majority of those reading this are deeply involved in waiting on some level…it may not be for 400 years, but it certainly may seem like it! I remember struggling through a 40 day fast where it “appeared” to just be silence! Then, suddenly…on day 39 of the fast, God provided a glimpse of future hope!
It wasn’t until three months later, when God provided a bit more dialog of purpose; and still 13 years in passing, He still provides triumphant hope welling up of future purpose! Waiting on God, in eager anticipation, is God’s gift to us that keeps on giving!
REST Ministries is in one of those times of waiting right now…we’re still working, we’re still preparing for the work ahead, ministry to others is still happening but we are also waiting on the Lord…expectantly dependent, resting in confident expectation.
Please join us as we praise God for how he has blessed and strengthened us in this time of waiting on the Lord. Also unite with us as we praise God for the ongoing prayer and financial support He provides. Please pray for wisdom and discernment as we continue to develop our next ministry steps and for continued divine appointments (God connecting people) for REST Ministries.
Thanks for being a part of REST Ministries! As much as you may not enjoy waiting, try to focus on resting in the Lord, and waiting patiently for Him. When your “suddenly” arrives, you’ll love soaring like an eagle and not growing weary in your renewed strength!