Waiting

Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. 

Psalm 27:14 

Why is waiting so difficult?  Even the smallest delays can be bothersome—like a line at the grocery store or the stop at a traffic signal that seems to take forever to turn green.

But then there are bigger challenges when it comes to waiting that truly test our fortitude, and sometimes, our faith. For instance, waiting for that result to come back from the doctor’s office.  Awaiting an answer to an ongoing prayer.  Anxiously anticipating that someone will return to the Lord—or come to know Him in the first place.

If you’re like me, you’ve gone through your fair share of “waiting seasons” too.  And no doubt you also know numerous people who are struggling because of their own experiences in the waiting room of life.  Even as I write this summer message, the list of those I’m praying for is lengthy:

• A friend is waiting for her grandson to have surgery.

• Several other friends are waiting to heal post-surgery.

• A woman I know just got admitted to the hospital because of intense back pain only to discover she has a cancerous tumor, so she’s now awaiting word on what will happen next.

• Another friend just texted that she’s having an emergency scan done for a spot that has appeared on one of her lungs.

I can relate to these health scares since I had one of my own several years ago.  Just as the summer of 2016 was about to start, my doctor handed me a lab slip at the end of a checkup.  As I stood in the hallway outside her office, I glanced at the paperwork she’d given me and saw the word ‘Cancer’ next to a box she’d checked.

Needless to say, that six-letter word rocked my world.  With shaky hands and weak knees, I somehow made it to the lab and collapsed into a chair.  I hadn’t expected anything like this when I’d originally made the appointment to see my doctor.  Sure, I’d had some physical problems for a few months, but I assumed they were something minor.  It would take several more months, many additional tests, and one lengthy surgery before I would be declared cancer-free.  In the meantime, the waiting was excruciating.

I wrote about that summer of waiting in I Choose Peace, and the overall lesson I learned during that long season is what a powerful resource the Lord is during challenging times.  Indeed, I couldn’t wait to dive into God’s Word each day—I needed to read His truths and find new ways to trust in His promises.  Psalm 27 was particularly meaningful, from the very first verse that reads “The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid?”

Fear often grips us as we await word about our health or the health of friends and loved ones.  It can also overwhelm us during other seasons of uncertainty, like the economic and social instability we’ve experienced in 2024.  And the global unrest we hear or read about in the news can rock our world too—even as we hope and pray for more peace, now and in the future.

The reality is that life will always be full of ups and downs, just as Jesus revealed in John 16: 33:  “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world.”

How can we survive those sorrowful times or seasons of wondering what is going to happen next?  And how do we find peace, despite the problems and painfully long periods of waiting for answers? By trusting the One who overcame every challenge of living, including death itself.  The psalmist knew the Lord was the source of help he needed.  Look at his poignant words in Psalm 27:8:  “My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘LORD, I am coming.’”  My friend,  seeking God’s assistance may seem nonsensical to some, but there’s no other way to be “brave and courageous” as we “wait patiently for the LORD” to resolve problems or point us in the right direction (verse 14).

In addition to the earthly turmoil we face, believers are also awaiting the promise of eternal life and an end to the pain we experience in our fallen world. The Apostle Peter offered some sage advice about how to handle this season of waiting:

…we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth He has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight. And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him— 

II Peter 3:13-15 

While there are days you and I may be more than ready for the joy of being with Jesus, the Lord asks us to be patient as we await the wonders He has in store for us.  Why? Because He is not only loving but also long-suffering, patiently waiting for countless others to come to know Him as we do.  In the meantime, we have a part to play in this “waiting game”—we’re called to follow the Lord peacefully and faithfully until the day He calls us to our eternal home.

How does the summer of 2024 look for you right now? Are you waiting for answers? Are you hoping for resolution to problems?  Whatever you are anxiously awaiting, remember you’re not alone.  The Lord knows.  He cares.  And, most of all, He’s ready to help you as you wait for the amazing future He has in store for you.

Thought of the Summer