The Work of Waiting

We don't generally think of waiting as "work." More often than not there is an implied sense of just 'sitting around'... as in a doctor's office waiting room. Waiting can also carry a negative connotation with it as a pause or delay to getting on with the more important things in life. The general sense of waiting can denote that we are helpless and at the mercy of others or time before resuming our regularly scheduled programming.

Here is short list of things we wait on without thinking much about it:

Waiting to hear a response

Waiting for results

Waiting to board a flight

Waiting to see how things unfold

But what we don't think about is that waiting is a verb! It's shows action.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it in verb form as: to stay in a place of expectation; to await. To remain in readiness or expectation; to look forward expectantly; to be ready and available.

As a noun it's defined as: a state or attitude of watchfulness and expectancy.

This was convicting to think about and also reaffirmed what we have felt during this long drawn-out period of looking for work without any prospects. I thought about this when Alex prayed, "...we are exhausted from the waiting..." Why? Because it takes a lot of energy to wait properly! To pray without ceasing. To cling to hope. To remind ourselves (and others) of the character of God. To sing his praises. To wake up daily and go about the work he's given us to do in this moment.

I started a prayer warrior thread back in May and one of the gals said this, "Remember when {Pastor} Victor preached on waiting? He said waiting is an activity! Praying the Lord will pour out His grace as you all keep busy waiting." I did not remember that particular sermon but loved the sentiment.

We have been busy these past several months and it would seem the Lord is not ready to relieve us of waiting just yet. This also makes me think about friends who suffer with chronic pain and are dealing with a dire health diagnosis I am also reminded of my missionary friends in Ukraine. They have been waiting for an end to the war and months on end of suffering. There are so many other similar situations in where our hearts collectively cry out, "How long O Lord?"

And that's when we can go to scripture. We are not alone in this condition of waiting. We see the Psalmist lament in Chapter 13-

1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long must I take counsel in my soul

and have sorrow in my heart all the day?

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;

light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,

4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”

lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;

my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

6 I will sing to the Lord,

because he has dealt bountifully with me.

So, take heart friends. Waiting is for our good. It's never easy, but it draws us closer to and into deeper reliance upon the Lord. We all go through cycles of waiting even if it varies from person to person. And even when it feels dark, quiet, and slow, to see how the Lord is moving in a specific situation, you can be rest assured that he is doing his work in you while you wait.