Waiting

                                      Waiting

Recently I was standing in the doctor’s office, while the nurse prepared to take the stitches out of my youngest son’s hand.  Believe it or not he was bit by a horse.  Before you think,   ‘THAT  MEAN OLD HORSE!’  He was not holding the grass properly as he feed him and his finger got in the way.  Before we left the car to walk into the doctor’s office he was hesitant.   He drug his feet as we walked across the parking lot.  As we sat in the waiting room, I thought for sure the little guy was going to burst out in tears!  Now, sitting on that padded table with the noisy white paper, the look on his face would melt any mom’s heart.

As the nurse took Matthew’s hand, he whimpered ‘ouch!’   Oh it didn’t hurt mind you.  He had himself so worked up, that just the ‘built up expectation’ of the stitches pulling caused what he thought was pain.  I had assured him, this was part of the healing process, and not to be afraid (sure easy for you to say mom!)

NOW –  just yesterday, I sat in the same doctor’s office with my other son, as he too received stitches.   This 14 year old decided throwing a large rock into other large rocks and watching them crumble was a good and fun idea, until a slice of rock hit him in the leg.  O Joy!  Now as he sit there waiting for his leg to numb, it was my job as a mom, to crack as many jokes as I could to clam him down.

Waiting… it really is not easy is it.  Whether it is for something we can’t wait to get to or just the opposite, something we REALLY could choose to avoid.  How many of us drag ourselves across the parking lot of life every now and then?

I have had an expectancy (an excitement of sorts)  in my heart and spirit lately, not really knowing what it is, I have asked the Lord to show me  what is needed to see it (whatever it is) come to pass.   His answer?   ‘Wait’.  Well… hm… I was actually hoping for more Lord.    But again …‘Wait’.  Alrighty then… wait we will do.  I do not ‘wait’ quietly or sit with folded hands.   I pulled out my bible and looked to see what God had to say to me on waiting..  if this is what I was suppose to do, then I better make sure I make good use of my time.   Cards anyone? (just kidding)

There is much to be said about sitting tight, and not getting out there ahead of God, if you will allow me to use that analogy.  The verse that spoke the loudest to me (ever have the word of God lovingly SCREAM at you) is Isaiah 40:31.

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. (KJV)

As I studied the first line of this verse, I was amazed.  I found that if we can get the first part, the rest will fall into place.  There will be great soaring,  running and not a lot of pooping out, our walk would be in such a way, that we would not find ourselves fallen in a heap on the ground.  Been there,  done that!

Wait.  It is NOT an ‘idle’ term.   There are those who may use this for an excuse as a laziness of spirit ‘yes, I am waiting on GOD!’ (said with a southern preachers drawl) and they have been there for … what?   A few years now.  No growth, no taking a step out, and definitely no victories in life.

I LOVE the picture the Hebrew word denotes… meaning a confident expectation.   I might add… that is an EAGER expectation.  The word is ‘qawah’ (pronounced ‘kaw-vaw’) , it literally means, (now catch this…)  to bind together,  twisting strands as in making a rope.  We are binding ourselves to God.  Other translations use words as hope and trust.   I thought cool, I can do this.  THEN, one resource had to throw in, ‘waiting involves the very essence of a person’s being’–  meaning I am going to allow my expectation to be wrapped so tight around God, that HE affects my thoughts, my feelings, and my will.  I will then respond appropriately.  OUCH!   Now the Holy Spirit is messing with me! 

Waiting involves ‘seeking’. It is that ‘draw near to God, and He will draw near to you’ (James 4:8)   Waiting is pro-active and taking courage Ps. 27:14 ‘wait for the LORD, be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

 Also it is good to wait and full of right choices Ps. 25: 21 ‘Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You’.  And waiting is … getting serious!  Ps. 130:5-6 ‘ I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait,  And in His word do I hope.  My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning’. (THAT is pretty serious).

What are the results of eager expectation in God as we allow ourselves to be wrapped and twisted with  Him?   Renewed strength.  This ‘renew’ means to ‘strike through’, like that of new growth on what seemed to be a dying tree, (ever felt like a dying tree?).  It also gives the idea of changing a garment.  Colossians 3:10  ‘put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator’.   The word Paul chooses to use for ‘renewed’ is an architectural term, meaning renovation ….remodel… as we wait on God in a sense we are being remodeled on the inside.  It is the taking down walls, ripping out fixtures, and please replacing the old wall paper with a fresh coat of paint.

But it doesn’t stop there (that’s good! – remodeling can be ugly) as we wait on God, we have renewed … strength.  What I like about this word is, it is progressive present tense… fancy wording for… it is NOW and ongoing!  It is stronger and getting stronger (AMEN!)  it is increasing in capacity, now having the ability to do something – being productive —  actually having results.  Isn’t God GOOD!

So yes… I wait.  Being serious and seeking after God in a courageous way that I exchange the old for the new,  weak for stronger.

I really must stop here and share what the Lord has done for me.   I had intended to send this out a few days ago, but God has a way of getting my attention, and that is usually by way of what I am studying and teaching, THEN presenting a life scenario for opportunity to see it happen.   The technique He generally uses is either rubbing it in my heart or as He did yesterday…the ‘smacking’ my head against the door frame of prayer because I did NOT bend low enough.  Anyone relate?

I had a situation that came up that REALLY needed prayer, wisdom and some good old humbling on my part. I sought some counsel, and asked for prayer.  I told the Lord, I know I am looking at ‘waiting’ but I NEED this NOW!  Which I did, I needed it that very evening.  The Lord showed me, ‘waiting’ may not be done in matters of counting minutes or crossing off days on the calendar.  It is making room for Him to work.  Like sitting on a bench and clearing off the spot next to you and saying  ‘sit here’  and coach me through this game plan. 

This I have learned is ‘waiting’.  Taking the time to invite Jesus Christ into our moment (however long those moments may linger).  When we do, we are strengthen because now He is on our bench calling the plays.

And as for the wisdom I was needing, yes God showed up beyond my wildest imagination (and I have a dandy of an imagination).  As I strapped on my worship music and went walking this morning, there were tears in my eyes, I found myself in a ‘whahooo’ moment, I was up off that bench cheering and now dancing circles,  the Lord didn’t say much (not that I gave Him opportunity) but I KNOW He sat there smiling at me.  And strength?  O  Lord thank you!   ‘Adonai Hu HaElohim’  (The Lord He is God)
Let’s pray…

Father, we wait for You.  As You welcome us with open arms,  You graciously take a seat with us,   help that this would indeed affect our whole being, body – soul and spirit.  Strengthen us.  May there be growth where there  was none before.  May we soar, run and walk with newness . We are careful to give You all the glory.  As we embrace  You even tighter in our ‘whahoo moments’.  In Jesus most powerful name. Amen.

Have a God-loving not sitting idle but waiting on Him, week.

In Him, DeDe (Ps. 92:4 You thrill me LORD…)

.