Waiting on GodSample

Isaiah 40:31 tells us that “those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength.” Waiting is a common theme throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Sarah had to wait for a baby. Noah waited for the flood. Joseph spent years waiting in prison. Jesus waited thirty years for His ministry to begin. Martha and Mary waited for resurrection. And the disciples had to wait for the Holy Spirit. Even as I write these words, you and I eagerly await the return of Christ. 

Waiting can be difficult. I sometimes say, “make me work but please do not make me wait.” But waiting, as described in the Bible, is a different process than what we think. The Hebrew word for “wait” is quavah, which means to plait, like the intertwining of hair or a rope. Waiting on the Lord is not a passive thing. It means to intertwine our lives with Him. Every circumstance, every decision, every facet of our life becomes wrapped so tightly together with the Lord that we are one. 

You have to press in tight, walking so close to God that every breath is prayer and praise, sunrise to sunset, all through the night, weaving Jesus into every piece and portion of your life. That is the kind of waiting that brings new strength. 

Why is waiting so hard for us? How is waiting related to trust?