This week I was reminded of how much the Christian life is centered on waiting on the LORD. There is so much waiting and waiting well. While we wait, we are called to persevere and to continue to spread the aroma of Christ around the world (2 Corinthians 2:15); we are called to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19); we are called to do good works prepared in advance for us in Christ (Ephesians 2:10); we are called to live like Christ and follow him in all that we do, think and are. It is interesting to note that no one in the Bible that was used by God did not have to wait including Jesus. I was thinking about how much Abraham had to wait before seeing the promise He had received from the LORD. It must have been ironic to see the many kids that could have been his or be the age of his nephews and nieces give birth ahead of him along with their children’s children, he who was meant to be the “father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5). I cannot begin to imagine what was said about him in the town, or even in his own family. Yet, in all this, the Bible tells us that “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3). Today’s post is a reminder for continuing to trust in the LORD against all odds.
In all stories of waiting that we see in the Bible, there is an undeniable and common thread: the LORD’s constant presence and love. God was with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joseph, Joshua, Naomi, Daniel, etc. Even in the silence that the waiting season can bring, God is with His people. Moreover, even in the pain that the waiting season can bring, God is with His people. Today, we can be confident that God is with us while we wait. We can be confident that we are not alone, and His steadfast love endures forever (Psalms 118). This week, my Bible reading was filled with passages reminding me of the steadfast love of God and His faithfulness that endures throughout the ages. As followers of Christ, we have been given the Holy Spirit who delights to reveal Christ and his ways to us. He guides us to scriptures, brings songs and hymns to encourage us to persevere, teach us to apply the word of God so that we may live lives that honour the LORD in the church and in the world. Furthermore, He convicts us of our wrong so that we can repent and ask forgiveness. In the waiting season, we are not alone indeed, we are even better equipped than the ones before us because unlike us, they did not have a direct access to God twenty-four hours, seven times a week. We are so privileged to have received the Holy Spirit and learn to live our lives in obedience to Him. In my reflection, I came to see three characteristics of those that wait well on the LORD.
The first characteristic is that those who wait well on the LORD are completely surrendered to Him. These are people who are not trying to live their lives according to their own intelligence, desires and rationale. They are people who have laid down their crowns before the King of kings. They have recognised that they are not as important as the world might make them or they might make themselves to be before God. Therefore, they have put aside whatever was adding to their pride. These are people that have killed the flesh and are walking according to the wisdom that is from above, not the earthly wisdom which is demonic, earthly, unspiritual and amounts to nothing (Jame 3:15). These are people who are quick to accept the outcome that life throws at them trusting that all things work together for the good of those who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). This is what Abraham did, when the child did not come or David, when he still was not king yet was running for his life or Joseph who trusted in the LORD even while in prison. All these patriarchs were quick to accept their lot for that season. As they accepted, they continued to trust in the LORD despite the misunderstandings and lack of answer from God.
The second characteristic of people who wait well is that their love for God is real. They have a genuine relationship with the LORD. It is not a relationship that is limited to master-servant but includes Father-Son and friend. Because of their love for the LORD, they seek to please Him, to know more about Him and as they learn and hear more about Him, their faith increases. Moreover, as the LORD speaks to them and directs their step, their faith is strengthened and steadfast in the promises of God. Such people have a strong faith in who God is and what He can do. These are people who do know their God as we read in the book of Daniel that “the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action” (Daniel 11:32). They take their walk with the LORD seriously; they are not here today and gone tomorrow. They are people who know how to encourage themselves in the LORD like David did when he was in distress because his own men wanted to stone him (1 Samuel 30:6).
The third characteristic of people who wait well is that they are peaceful. Irrespective of what they are going through, they are at peace, they seek peace, and they make peace. These are people that are looking for opportunities to walk and grow in unity, they are seeking for the will of God to be done in all things. I am reminded of Isaac who was seeking to get a resolution with the people of the land he was to possess around a well or of David who would not lay his hand on Saul to take the kingdom because this was not his time, and Saul was the LORD’s anointed. David was convinced that when the time was right, God would establish him as king. And that happened. As followers of Christ, we are called to be people of peace, to live peaceably with all as long as it depends on us (Romans 12:18). Rather than being agitated which can only lead to sinful acts, those who wait well on the LORD have a peace that surpasses all understanding because they have learned by prayer and supplication and with thanksgiving to make their request known to God (Philippians 4:6-7).
Truth be told, waiting well in the LORD requires many things because as much as we are called to be people of faith, we are people of sight in this world. Therefore, we struggle to live by faith and not by sight when everything around us is built around sight. Only the LORD in His mercy can guide us and direct our steps so that we would persevere and not lose heart. Only Him by His grace and mercy can point us to the truth that His love is steadfast, and his mercy endures forever. I pray that, like me, you get to rejoice in that great truth and that you sing it loudly when your circumstances tell you otherwise. May you keep going forward in your walk with the LORD. Amen!
Amen🙏🏽🙏🏽🌿
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