For the weak, the lowly of heart, weary and faint...there is one
prescription...Wait.
Waiting consists
of two virtues, faith and patience. Faith has been freely given to us in an
adequate measure…we have to recognize it, and exercise it. The Bible tells us
that God has given to everyone “the measure of faith”.
Patience, on the
other hand, is a precious commodity. Patience has to be cultivated. We live in
a “now”
world and "instant" culture with advancements and technology
that do not require practicing patience. Therefore, waiting is despised. Often,
negativity is attached to the concept of waiting.
In the past
weeks, God has impressed on me to study the concept of "waiting"… the
"tarrying" type of wait. “Tarrying” is not the kind of "wait"
that is a demonstration of faith and belief in a result that is directly
related to the actions and time frames of others, but rather, a response in
faith to God’s love and the patience in expectation to receive, not material
things, but a refreshing and renewal by the strength and power of His Spirit.
The “tarrying”
type of “wait” possesses a confidence in expectation and anticipation. It is
not defined with a negative value, but instead adds value. In tarrying, the
time is of no issue…it is not “spent”. In tarrying, one gives time to God, and there
is a significant "worth" or gain. It is the ultimate in definitions
of the expression, “worth the wait”.
Certainly, many
Christians understand the concept of waiting on God…having faith in His power,
provision and purposes. However, the busyness
or our fast-paced world places demands on our time, and affects our focus, and
our prayer lives suffer. “Tarrying” or waiting for His Presence in prayer often
yields a tangible sense of His love. God’s Presence is a place where we receive
rest and comfort, joy and peace. It produces a renewed strength in life.
This life drains us, and we become weak. Crushed under
the weight of doubt, dysfunction, discouragement, and difficulties in this
world, depression drives us to low places. Lack of rest leaves us weary, and we
often feel like giving up in the face of life’s overwhelming challenges. God
knows we are weak, lowly, weary and faint. But what do we do? We work harder to
make things “better”. What does God tell us to do? He wants us to wait…
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be
weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Could it be
possible that we have not entirely grasped a significant aspect of the word,
“wait”? Could it be that we have missed the importance of resting in the LORD
and tarrying in His Presence? And could it be that we spend time working so
hard to make things better, and wind up in a time deficit, neglecting to tarry
in the Presence of God?
The concept that
stands out to me in this Scripture is that we do nothing…there is no work
involved. When we wait, tarry, linger in the blessed Presence of an Almighty
God, in the arms of a loving Savior, we find rest in His assurance. For “waiting”,
we shall
receive renewal and strength. We shall be raised up, and delivered
from the dreary depths of doubt and depression. We shall walk confidently,
with endurance.
Be still and know
that He is God and that He is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Make
time for God…wait in His Presence. I have always heard that “good things come
to those who wait”… God is good.
Be Blessed, In Jesus' Name,
Angie
No comments:
Post a Comment