"WAIT." What does God mean that we wait?
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“Wait” may be one of the most stressful four letter words that exists. What does God mean that we wait?
Recently I was sweetly surprised overhearing a little girl around 4 years old asking her father for something. I could not see her; but didn’t need to because her voice revealed everything. Her father was interacting with a cashier; but his daughter was in her own world. She had some sweet dream forming. With those thoughts came words and action, intent on turning her father’s attention to her. The lilt of her little girl voice, the longing and urgency in her request, the innocence of her question quickly revealed the desire of her heart. With a product display separating us, I could only tune to what she was beginning to whisper. I pictured her at her father’s leg, looking up at him wide-eyed, taking her little hand, tapping him softly on the thigh to get his gaze to look down on her. She kept her tone soft and gentle; she sounded a little shy as she revealed a secret longing. Her heart poured forth, “Daddy, daddy… will you marry me? Daddy, will you marry me? Daddy, will you marry me?”
She got his attention. I didn’t hear his answer; but my ear heard her response. The sound wave of her giggle traveled from counter level up. He must have scooped her up into his arms. How sweet for a father to hear his daughter imagining him as her safest place forever…
What if this father turned to her and said, “I’m sorry you have to wait. You can’t marry me; you have to wait for a long time before you can get married.”
W-A-I-T. We hate that answer. It’s a four letter word to us often, releasing a stench of offense and frustration in just a few prayer closets.
Yet only if we embraced waiting. There is treasure there. HE is there.
At the Psalm 23 meditation on February 19th, two people have told me that the Holy Spirit gave them a living image of Jesus’ face during the session. One saw the LORD joyous and laughing, the other saw him coming towards her and looking at her with deep love, affirming He sees her, affirming she is His! Just like the little girl wanting her father’s attention, both were deeply touched because his gaze met their soul and revived it.
Psalm 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
God designed waiting to be based upon expectation and anticipation of HIS intervention. The truest and best type of waiting ties God to the outcome, expecting His deliverance and help. God is the answer in waiting. We are not to be ticking off time apart from resting in Him. Just like the father who didn’t want to crush the heart of his little girl’s request, God longs to scoop us up and be what satisfies us in the waiting.
Not to be missed, when it comes to waiting, God’s action is the answer. It is not idle in physical action; but it is idle in soul worry, soul panic, soul fear, soul demand, and self-motive. This is not simple for us. Internally, we rev up pretty easy, our thoughts on the wheel; our calculating on the gas pedal, our prayer language filled with harsh sounds of revved engines stuck in park. But God intends we shift into “soul” idle and let Him power us forward by His Spirit. This is not some ethereal idea. It is very practical and necessary. It is where the peace that surpasses understanding is obtained, Philippians 4:4-7.
One of the women I referenced above came to February’s Psalm 23 meditation with a real need to know that God was with her and her husband in a major life decision. This is what she says after attending,
“Psalm 23 has long been a favorite. The Psalm emphasizes my Lord’s goodness and His sufficiency to care for His own. To enter into a meditation on this psalm with others in praise and honor seeking His face was an opportunity not to be missed. I felt I wanted to honor and express my want to draw closer to Him. At the same time seeking His will and provision for our move to Kentucky. Our faithful Lord answered my petitions in a wonderful way, being true to His promises in Psalm 23.”
Do you hear the love language of her heart? Does it appear she respects and honors God? Does it seem that she anticipates and expects God’s intervention? Did she experience His presence? Is she full of praise and thankfulness? Does she claim God’s Word as the promises on which her soul can be powered forward by His help and deliverance?
Joanna’s view of God reminds me of the little girl with sweet dreams forming in her heart. She is one seeking her Heavenly Father’s attention, not just His handout. She is calmed by being in His safe embrace, married to him forever. God scooped her up and calmed her without words. He revealed His joy filled face. She got the Father’s attention. She goes forward knowing He is there. Her soul shifted to idle, powered forward by faith in Christ. Talk to her and she’ll detail how she has freshly experienced God’s intervention and provision for their unexpected move, filling them with awe and wonder!
The encouragement is to be childlike with God. Humble yourself as a child and enter, Matthew 18:3. Enter the LORD’s throne room, Hebrews 4:16. Wait with expectation in HIS intervention. He is near. He is near to all who call on him in truth, Psalm 145:18. Please consider waiting in His presence by attending either Saturday April 30th or Saturday May 14th. He is faithful to meet you! Go to the calendar page to sign up- http://www.intothewaters.com/calendar.html
