WAITING as a MISSIONAL POSTURE: A 5-Day Journey Exploring the Role of Waiting in Missional Livingনমুনা

Waiting as the Posture of Mission and Vision

In many ways, the past four days of exploring the biblical portrait of waiting on the Lord have focused inward. Our experience of refreshment in weary times, our reception of guidance in moments of confusion, our relief amid challenging circumstances, and the hope we discover. These are all beautiful benefits of learning to wait on the Lord. However, the ultimate product of sustained dwelling in God’s presence is the growing awareness of God’s mission in the world, the sharpening of our capacity to see with his vision and respond to his heart.

As we return to Isaiah to close this series of readings, the prophet extols the “beautiful feet” of messengers who bring good news—the announcement of salvation, the declaration that the Lord reigns (v. 7). As he describes the arrival of this good news, we see again the image of sentinels or night watchmen on alert for the first rays of dawn. This time, however, we glimpse that joy-filled moment when the waiting ends, when the much-anticipated answer has come. “Listen!” calls the prophet. “Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight, they see the return of the Lord to Zion” (v. 8, NRSV). Those who had mourned over the ruins of the city of Jerusalem are now called to rejoice; those who had waited—sometimes despairing, sometimes with audacious hope—are now invited to burst into singing (v. 9).

In some mysterious way, the long trajectory of sustained hope and hopeful waiting has produced in this writer the capacity to see beyond the personal or even national impact of this good news. Yes, the Lord has comforted his people and redeemed Jerusalem (v. 9)—and this is reason enough to rejoice! Nevertheless, God’s mighty acts of redemption and salvation will also impact “all the nations and all the ends of the earth” (v. 10).

Much of the rest of Isaiah’s prophecy will highlight this mission of God towards the nations. And centuries later, when an old man named Simeon holds the child Jesus in his arms, he rejoices that his own waiting is over (Luke 2:29). He gazes at the baby and sees the face of God’s salvation, “which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles (the nations) and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:30–32). Simeon’s years of faithful waiting have sharpened his vision and sensitized him to God’s missional purposes. May it be so for us also!

My friend, wait on the Lord!

As you learn to wait on the Lord, developing a posture of trust, rest, expectancy, and joyful anticipation, how do you hear him speaking to you about purposeful, missional living? One Mission Society can help you explore and discern the next steps. Connect with OMS at https://onemissionsociety.org.