I'll wait

No one likes waiting. We’ve all experienced the dreadful DMV waiting room or the never-ending security line at the airport. It’s a fact that humans don't like waiting. Especially in an instant world, we want things done quickly and done now. 

I think sometimes we try to rush God into giving us the things we want. We don't want to have to wait years to get married or wait months for that new job opportunity. We’d rather God work like Amazon Prime. Fast and efficient. 

But where’s the lesson in that? 

I’ve been reading in 1 Samuel about David and Saul. I think we forget that from the time David slew the giant to the time he became king there’s about a 20-year gap. Imagine knowing that you have been anointed by God to become king of all of Israel, but you have to wait and serve under a king who despises you. You have to endure the fear of death every time you go to work. You have to spend years being hunted by a bloodthirsty ruler.

If David hadn't gone through all that he wouldn't have seen his need for God. If he had just been handed the crown he wouldn't have understood how incapable he was on his own. God brought David closer to Himself by allowing him to suffer. Their relationship became strong in the waiting. 

We are all waiting for the day Jesus will come again. We are “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). When the Bible talks about waiting it doesn't mean that we just sit on our bums like in the waiting room of the DMV. We wait in anticipation, sharing the Good News of Jesus! We wait in prayer, we wait in the study of God’s word, and we wait in community with fellow believers.  

But we can also be in a season of waiting for things that we want to happen in our lives. I’ve been in a season of waiting for about a year now and I look forward with joy knowing I have a long way to go. Because there’s beauty in the waiting. It’s when your faith is strengthened and your patience is tested. It’s full of struggle and rest. But it’s God way of reeling you in and keeping you close. Waiting is how the Lord reveals to us how desperately we need Him.

One of my favorite worship leaders, Kristene Dimarco, has a song called “Take Courage”. I want to leave you with her honest/ lyrics on waiting:

 Slow down, take time

Breath in He said

He'd reveal what's to come

The thoughts in His mind

Always higher than mine

He'll reveal all to come

Take courage my heart

Stay steadfast my soul

He's in the waiting

He's in the waiting

Hold onto your hope

As your triumph unfolds

He's never failing

He's never failing

And You who hold the stars

Who call them each by name

Will surely keep, Your promise to me

That I will rise, in Your victory