"Waiting"

In Isaiah 40:31 it says, "they that wait on the Lord renew their strength."

I would guess there are many of us for whom waiting is not our favorite activity. Waiting seems like a waste of time...while we are waiting in line or waiting to get through a long list of animated options on the phone, we can practically feel the minutes of life we are loosing that we will never regain. However, the Bible seems to challenge us to rethink waiting. Rather than a passive activity, waiting is to be proactive.

For example, sometimes when I know Kimberly is returning from working out or when I know Grandma and Grandpa are one their way, I take the kids to the front window to wait for them. There is nothing passive about their waiting because their waiting is really a watching. They are watching intently and wholeheartedly for the awaited loved one to arrive. They look up and down the street. Any car that passes, they ask, ""Is that mommy?" There waiting is very active...it is no waste of time...they are watching for someone they love and every minute that passes brings them closer to a warm embrace.

Isn't that waiting on God is all about? Not twiddling our thumbs growing more and more frustrated and impatient, but learning to watch for God in expectation. Watching for God to show up when you wake up in the morning, at work, at the kids practice, at the grocery store, at the gym, at the moment when you can't help but smile and at the moment when you can't help but cry. Those who find renewed strength are those who wait, because those who wait are watching for God. They expect God to show up in any and every moment of life. And Jesus said those who seek will find.

Pretty soon the car pulls around the corner and Anna shouts, "Mommy's home" or "Ma maw and Pap pa are here." Then Seth pounds on the window and squeals in excitement. And I sit back and pray, "Father, help me to learn to wait for you in a way that I watch for you with certain expectation that those who look for you find you wherever and whenever no matter whatever."

As I am in my second day of sabbatical that is my prayer for you and for me...that we will learn that waiting is not a waste of time, but the best way to see God show up!

Feel free to share your thoughts on the message board at www.elivinghope.com at the sabbatical page.