When We Wait

I feel like I have spent a good part of my Christian life waiting on God. That’s not a bad thing, but it can be a hard thing.

As we navigate life (hopefully through the lens of God’s Word) sometimes it seems we’re moving, but never gaining any ground. I think that’s when we start to wonder if God forgot our story. Of course we know He didn’t, but sometimes it seems like waiting lasts forever.

The Psalmist knew this well. He mentions waiting on the Lord many times, both in asking God to hear him, and also in expressing his firm hope that God would indeed hear his cry and deliver him. (“But for you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.” Psalms 38:15)

While we sit before the Lord, it is important to remind ourselves of God’s character, His promises, and His grace – His grace will sustain us through the waiting.

For the last 18+ months, I have been praying about a situation. Through many ups and downs, my husband and I both felt God leading us in a specific direction. Excited, we started down that road to currently be… waiting. But, by His grace alone, we are able to lay our cares at His feet.

“Waiting for the Lord is the opposite of running ahead of the Lord and it’s the opposite of bailing out on the Lord. [Waiting] is staying at your appointed place when He says stay, or it’s going at His appointed pace when he says go.” -John Piper

Sometimes His pace is not what I want… patience is not one of my strong suits. But to truly wait for the Lord means following His lead.

Yesterday, I was talking with God about things again, and I read the Psalm for the day. It was the perfect reminder to wait with confidence in God.

Psalm 16: You Will Not Abandon My Soul

1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.

4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.

5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

8 I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.

10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

This Psalm reminds me:

God is my refuge. He is good. I should be faithful to Him. He has determined my steps. He has given me a beautiful inheritance. I will bless Him. He gives me counsel. He is my right hand. I will follow Him and not be shaken. My heart is glad; I dwell secure. He has made me know the paths of life, given me fullness of joy, and will give me pleasures forever more.

We are in the best of hands. So we take hold of His grace, we pray for His mercy, and we rejoice, even when we wait.

© Grace Baeten 2021